Senegal's FIFA World Cup hopes might have been dealt a hammer blow with L'Equipe reporting that star man Sadio Mane will miss the tournament in Qatar through injury.
According to the French outlet, the 30-year-old picked up a tendon problem during Bayern Munich's 6-1 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Tuesday and it will require weeks of recovery.
Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane will reportedly miss the World Cup with Senegal after getting injured yesterday. https://t.co/RwJYz1m3sJ
— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) November 9, 2022
Although Mane himself and the German giants' medical staff were optimistic that the injury was not serious, L'Equipe report that it is more than a simple knock as first suspected.
The former Liverpool man is said to be suffering from a tendon issue which will require weeks out of action with the World Cup due to start in just over 10 days and Aliou Cisse set to name his Senegal squad later this week.
Mane helped the Lions of Teranga to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations title and the CAF champions were expected to advance from World Cup Group A ahead of the likes of Ecuador and hosts Qatar.
Sadio Mané was subbed off due to an injury.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 8, 2022
Senegal play their first World Cup match in 13 days. pic.twitter.com/LM1egQeGFi
The Netherlands are favorites to finish top of the four-team pool but talismanic Mane's loss for Senegal could open the door for an underrated Ecuador side to advance.
If confirmed by Cisse, the Senegalese Football Federation, or Bayern, Mane will join the growing list of high-profile individuals to be missing this winter's World Cup after Germany and RB Leipzig's Timo Werner last week.