Senegal star player Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Senegalese Football Association confirmed on Thursday that Mane failed to recover on time and will therefore remain in Munich, Germany.
The 30-year-old was forced off during Bayern’s Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen on 8 November.
He was due to join the rest of his teammates ahead of their first group A match against Netherlands on Monday.
The West Africa nation will also play hosts Qatar on 25 November and on 29 November.
NO HOPE FOR SADIO MANE
On Tuesday, Senegal FA raised some hopes for Mane saying he would only miss their first games at the tournament.
But it seems further MRI scan on Thursday showed that surgical intervention is needed.
Senegal team doctor Manuel Afonso gave a report during a media conference on Thursday.
“The latest news has arrived just now, and since the injury to Sadio Mane which happened on 8 November. We made contact very quickly with Bayern Munich to have the information,” he said.
“The next day, the club communicated to us the images of the first MRI he undertook. Which showed an injury to his right knee and for which we went to examine the player and take another look at the images right at the heart of the club.
“It was decided to undergo another MRI today (17 November) to understand the evolution and determine whether or not it was possible for Sadio Mane to keep his place at the World Cup.
“And, sadly, today’s MRI has shown that the evolution is not as favourable as we’d have imagined. So we’ve resolved, sadly, to declare that Mane is forfeit for this World Cup,” Afonso broke the news to journalists.
Bayern Munich also released a statement on Thursday confirming that Mane had a successful surgery.
