With 24 hours to go before the announcement of coach Aliou Cisse’s list for the 2022 World Cup, concern reigns this Thursday in Senegal. Sadio Mané’s injury to the head of his fibula on Tuesday against Werder Bremen (6-1) leaves the risk of a withdrawal of the Bayern Munich winger, star player of the selection. Another member of the national team, Abdou Diallo, suffered a knee injury during the warm-up. He could also miss the World Cup.
This Thursday, The Team nuanced its diagnosis after announcing on Wednesday morning the withdrawal of Sadio Mané for the World Cup. The sports daily explains that the former Liverpool player will undergo additional examinations which should make it possible to be definitively fixed and that a doctor of the Senegalese selection is expected this Thursday in Bavaria to evaluate the situation.
If the situation is still unclear on Friday morning, the doubt could benefit Mané, who Cisse should include in his list if there is even a remote chance of him being fit for the competition.
Senegal faces a tough challenge
However, a new problem has arisen in the last few hours with Abdou Diallo. RB Leipzig announced on Wednesday that the centre-back had to withdraw from the match against Freiburg (3-1) because of a knee injury sustained during the warm-up, without giving further details.
This second case, which comes in the current context (imminent World Cup and Mané’s injury), is a real dilemma that can create psychosis within Cisse’s team.