World Cup

Sadio Mane included in Senegal World Cup squad

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 11 November 2022

Sadio Mane has been included in Senegal's squad for the World Cup, despite reports that the Bayern Munich forward would miss out through injury.

Sadio Mane has been selected in Senegal's squad for the upcoming World Cup, despite fears that he would miss the tournament through injury.

On Tuesday evening, the Bayern Munich forward needed to be withdrawn during the first half of the Bundesliga fixture against Werder Bremen with what was later described as a tendon injury.

Although Julian Nagelsmann indicated after the game that it was 'not a big injury', reports emerged in France that Mane would miss out on representing his country in Qatar.

However, two days later, the 30-year-old has been named in Aliou Cisse's 26-man squad, heading a talent crop of players with a wide array of top-level experience.

Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane after being substituted due to injury as coach Julian Nagelsmann looks on on November 8, 2022 © Reuters

As well as Mane, Chelsea duo Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly are the headline selections, the trio having all starred when Senegal won the African Cup of Nations at the beginning of the year.

There are eight other representatives from English football with Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye and Watford winger Ismaila Sarr also in line for key roles.

Leicester City's Nampalys Mendy, Nottingham Forest's Cheikhou Kouyate and Tottenham Hotspur's Pape Sarr will also be present in Qatar.

Abdou Diallo and Fode Ballo-Toure, of RB Leipzig and AC Milan respectively, will be expected to show their capabilities in the backline alongside Koulibaly.

Cisse has gone top-heavy with attacking options with Boulaye Dia, Bamba Dieng and Famara Diedhiou - of Salernitana, Marseille and Alanyaspor respectively - each bringing their own qualities in the final third.

The Lions of Teranga, who narrowly missed out on the knockout stages four years ago, have been placed in a group alongside Netherlands, Ecuador and Qatar.

Senegal begin their campaign with a fixture against the former in Doha on November 21.

Senegal's 2022 World Cup squad in full

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Alfred Gomis (Rennes), Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers)

Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiacos), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig), Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco), Formose Mendy (Amiens)

Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur), Moustapha Name (Pafos), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Mamadou Loum (Reading), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano)

Attackers: Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Bamba Dieng (Marseille), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal)