Sadio Mane dealt his then Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah a blow when he helped Senegal qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, but the 30-year-old forward has now been ruled out of the competition.
Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane suffers World Cup heartbreak
Mane, who left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022 for £27.5 million (Sky Sports), will not play for Senegal in the Qatar World Cup due to injury.
The 30-year-old forward suffered an injury to his right fibula in Bayern’s 6-1 Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen last Tuesday.
Mane was named in Senegal’s 26-man squad despite the leg injury, but it has now been announced that it will keep him out of the World Cup finals.
Bayern have announced on Twitter that Mane has undergone successful surgery and will “no longer be available” for the World Cup.
This will come as a massive blow for Senegal and for Mane himself.
The forward is one of the best players in the world and was superb during his time at Liverpool, scoring goals, providing assists and winning the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
Mane has not had the best of times at Bayern so far this season.
The 30-year-old has scored six goals and given three assists in 14 Bundesliga appearances, and has scored three goals and provided one assist in six UEFA Champions League matches so far this season.
Interestingly, it was Mane who broke his then Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah’s heart back in March 2022.
Senegal beat Egypt in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Third Round.
Egypt won the first leg 1-0.
Senegal won the second leg 1-0.
The tie went into penalties.
Salah could not score from the spot.
Mane tucked away his, and it proved to be the winner.
Senegal won the penalty shootout 3-1.
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