Speaking for the first time since it was announced that he will not feature in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Sadio Manè has rallied support for Senegal ahead of their opening Group A match against Netherlands on Monday. The reigning African best footballer was ruled out of the World Cup with an injury he sustained while on duty for Bayern Munich in a 6-1 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga earlier this month.Mané has since undergone a surgery on the injured knee and is recouping.For two straight FIFA World Cups, Africa’s best players are not able to represent their countries to the best of their abilities due to injuries sustained at club level! 2018: Mo Salah 🇪🇬 2022: Sadio Mane 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/r1oAvLFTu3— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) November 17, 2022 “On Monday, our dear country will compete in the World Cup, Qatar 2022. I’m sure the Lions will transcend and approach every game as a true final. I am also convinced that all Senegalese will be in front of the small screen to support and encourage our gallant national team. I’m convinced that the team will fight as one man as they usually do to honor our dear flag,” said the 30-year-old former Liverpool player.Senegal coach Aliou Cisse had been optimistic when discussing Mane’s injury earlier this month, but the Bayern forward has now been ruled out of the showpiece event, after the news was confirmed by the Senegalese Football Federation.Fatma Samoura, the Secretary General of FIFA and a former Senegalese diplomat and senior executive, had said the country would go to extreme methods to ensure Mane was present in Qatar, admitting they are not even sure if the unorthodox technique will work but that they are hoping for ‘miracles’.Les supporters marocains croisent quelques supporters sénégalais et chantent à la gloire de Sadio Mané. 🇲🇦❤️🇸🇳(🎥 @MarocPsg) pic.twitter.com/G2aK0mh88k— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) November 19, 2022 ‘We are going to use witch doctors,’ she told Europe 1. ‘I don’t know (if they’re effective) but in this instance, we’re going to use them anyway. We are hoping for miracles. He has to be there!’.Mane, who has 34 goals in 93 caps for his country and is the two-time African player of the year, was pivotal to the African champions’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stages and his injury is a heartbreaking blow to himself and his nation.The former Liverpool star was instrumental for the team on their way to winning this year’s Africa Cup of Nations as they beat Egypt on penalties in the final, having scored four goals during the tournament.
