Senegal Star Sadio Mane Out Of World Cup 2022; Here's What We Know

Senegal forward Sadio Mane will not take part in the FIFA World Cup 2022, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions announced Thursday.

The Bayern Munich star picked up a leg injury during his side's 6-1 victory over Werder Bremen in Bundesliga on Nov. 8. The Senegalese winger sustained an injury to the head of the fibula bone in his lower right leg.

Despite the injury, Mane was included in the Senegal squad for the World Cup but was expected to miss the game against the Netherlands on Nov. 20. However, further scans showed Mane would require surgery and would not be able to compete in the Qatar World Cup, the Teranga Lions revealed in a press conference Thursday.

Senegal national soccer side wished Mane a speedy recovery in a post on Twitter.

The 30-year-old has undergone successful surgery and is expected to return to Munich in the coming days, Bayern Munich confirmed in an official statement.

"Mane underwent successful surgery in Innsbruck by Prof Christian Fink and Dr Andy Williams from London on Thursday evening. During the operation, a tendon was reattached to the head of his right fibula. The FC Bayern forward will therefore no longer be available to play for Senegal at the World Cup and will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days," the statement read.

World Cup 2022 will begin Sunday in Qatar. After the match with the Netherlands, Senegal will take on hosts Qatar on Nov. 25 and Ecuador on Nov. 29.

Mane, whose decisive penalty took Senegal into the World Cup, will be severely missed by the side.

In his last four games for Senegal, Mane was on the goals chart on three occasions, including a hat-trick in his side's 3-1 win over Benin. Overall, the Bayern forward has netted 33 goals and 20 assists for Senegal in 92 competitive games.

For Bayern Munich, Mane has scored 11 goals and assisted four in 23 appearances in the 2022-23 season.