The Lions of Teranga were rocked by the news of Mane’s untimely injury.
Senegal captain Sadio Mane suffered an injury in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 victory over Werder Bremen on Tuesday.
The Ballon d’Or runner-up immediately limped off the pitch, but urgent medical care wasn’t enough to save his World Cup chances.
On Wednesday, widespread reports in both French and German outlets confirmed Mane will not recover in time for the Qatar tournament.
It’s a terrible blow to Senegal’s World Cup hopes, forcing Aliou Cissé to find a replacement for the former Liverpool star.
Let’s take a look at some of Senegal’s options for Mane’s position.
Boulaye Dia: A new star striker?
Dia was a starting option for Cisse even if Mane was fit to play. The Salernitana striker failed to score any goals for Senegal during their triumphant Nations League campaign in February.
However, his improved performances for the Serie A side this season might convince Cisse to consider him as the main focal point of his attacking line in the World Cup.
Dia has registered five goals and two assists so far this season. But he would need to significantly improve his goal delivery to cover for Mane’s absence.
Ismaila Sarr: A new leader upfront?
Sarr has been a cornerstone of Senegal’s forward line in recent years. He will continue his role in the World Cup but with new duties.
Mane was a talismanic figure in Cisse’s attacking setup, and his absence will leave a significant gap in their squad.
As an experienced winger, Sarr could shift the focus of Senegal’s attacking efforts to the left-hand side of the pitch.
Sarr’s pace could become a valuable asset to the Lions of Teranga, enabling them to appear more dangerous on the counter-attacks.
Nicolas Jackson: An uncapped hero?
Jackson has taken La Liga by storm this season, establishing a reputation as one of the league’s most promising forwards.
Jackson has played as a left winger before, but his most natural positions are centre-forward and right winger.
The 21-year-old has directly contributed to four league goals for Villarreal this season.
Jackson’s performances have already attracted interest from Newcastle and Aston Villa. But Mane’s absence could provide him with a golden chance to showcase his qualities in the Qatar tournament.
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