Sadio Mane officially ruled out of 2022 World Cup

Senegal will not have the services of talismanic deputy skipper Sadio Mane.

It emerged on Thursday, November 17, 2022 that Mane has been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury.

The Bayern Munich forward was rued out after it emerged that he is unable to recover from injury in time.

Mane suffered a leg injury

Read full articlein Bayern Munich's 6-1 win over Werder Bremen earlier this month, which put into doubt his hopes of competing at the tournament.

All about Group A - credit from NBS sports

Group A in the 2022 World Cup will be intriguing, as hosts Qatar are joined by African champs Senegal, plus the Netherlands and Ecuador.

This really is a wide-open group and the host nation (who are huge outsiders) will be thinking they have a chance of reaching the knockout rounds if things go their way and the home fans inspire them.

But there’s no doubting that the Netherlands and Senegal are the favorites to advance as Virgil van Dijk will lead the Dutch as they look to make up for missing the 2018 tournament, while Senegal are led by Sadio Mane as they aim to better their best-ever finish of reaching the quarterfinals in 2002.

Group A schedule (all kick off times ET)

November, 20: Qatar vs Ecuador – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor – 11am

November, 21: Senegal vs Netherlands – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor – 5am

November, 25: Qatar vs Senegal – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor – 8am

November, 25: Netherlands vs Ecuador – Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan – 11am

November, 29: Netherlands vs Qatar – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor – 10am

November, 29: Ecuador vs Senegal – Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan – 10am