Sadio Mane Set For Medical Exams To Determine If He Can Play At World Cup

It is feared that Sadio Mane may be forced to miss the World Cup.

The Senegal talisman damaged a bone in his right leg during Bayern Munich's 6-1 win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday night.

He was subbed off after 20 minutes at the Allianz Arena.

Mane's injury occurred just 13 days before Senegal's first fixture at Qatar 2022.

Senegal will play Holland on November 21. Their other group games are on November 25 against Qatar and on November 29 against Ecuador.

Mane has not been definitively ruled out of the tournament, but he will for certain miss Bayern's game at Schalke on Saturday.

Bayern issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon. It read: "Sadio Mane has suffered an injury to the head of his right fibula in FC Bayern's 6-1 win against Werder Bremen.

"Africa's Footballer of the Year will miss Saturday's game against Schalke. Further examinations will follow in the coming days.

"FC Bayern is also in contact with the medical staff of the Senegalese Football Association."

Mane played a key role in Senegal qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, including converting the winning spot-kick after his side's playoff with Egypt went all the way to a penalty shootout in March.

Qatar 2022 will be only the third World Cup to feature the Senegalese national team.

Senegal reached the quarter-finals in 2002 but were eliminated in the group stage at Russia 2018.

Mane scored in a 2-2 draw with Japan in Russia. But Japan finished ahead of Senegal in Group H, despite the two teams having almost identical records.

Both teams had four points, had scored four and conceded four. But Japan progressed ahead of Senegal based on the number of yellow cards received.

Sadio Mane pictured in action for Senegal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

IMAGO/Xinhua/Liu Dawei