The fibula injury to Sadio Mane has, of course, complicated the African champions’ World Cup preparations.
Few teams in the competition are as dependent on one obvious talisman and supplier of goals as Senegal is on Mane, and the Teranga Lions’ expectations must be adjusted as a result of his absence, even if only partially.
Mane is still a member of Aliou Cisse’s 26-man squad, but he will have an MRI on Monday to see if he can participate in Senegal’s campaign later on.
Mane contributed to five of their nine goals during their successful run at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, so Cisse needs to find a substitute from his remaining 25 players as soon as possible.
Senegal can choose. even if they are the only one of Africa’s five teams without a pre-tournament friendly scheduled, even though, of course, no single player can make up for the quality Mane’s absence has diminished
The forward’s unique position within the team, where he often begins on the left and moves inside to influence play and harm opponents via the middle, might also be impossible for anybody to mimic.
Ismaila Sarr, a right winger who has started games regularly for Watford this season, might be moved to the left as one option, and Krepin Diatta or Nicolas Jackson may then be added to the starting lineup on the right.
The latter, who has yet to receive a cap, is having a breakout season at Villarreal and could end up being the primary beneficiary of Mane’s injury.
Iliman Ndiaye of Sheffield United is another player who might now take on a more significant position within the group.
Even though he seems more at ease playing off a central striker, he has thrived in the Championship and scored nine goals. He may be the greatest option to replicate the cunning and inventiveness Mane brings to the table in the final third.
Mane’s injury issues have overshadowed Cisse’s earlier concerns about Edouard Mendy’s lack of playing time, Kalidou Koulibaly’s Premier League troubles, and Nampalys Mendy’s inactivity.
Saliou Ciss and Bouna Sarr, the AFCON-winning full back pair, were not included in the 26-man roster owing to injury and a lack of playing time (Ciss hasn’t found a new club since the summer).
They are replaced by Real Betis’s returning Youssouf Sabaly and AC Milan’s Fode Ballo-Toure, who are both younger than the players they are replacing.
Despite suffering an injury, Abdou Diallo, the other starting center back alongside Koulibaly, has traveled and is not anticipated to miss any action. If so, Pape Abou Cisse will fill in for him on defense.
Eight central midfielders are traveling to Doha as part of Cisse’s team, but there is a definite lack of variation