The Bayern player ends up on the list because of popular and political pressure for him to lead his team

Senegal put Mané under witchcraft to reach Qatar 2022

PHOTO/REUTERS/GHANY - Africa Cup final between Senegal and Egypt

Updated: 14/11/22 | 6:37

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Sadio Mané suffered a knee tendon injury after a Bayern Munich game against Werder Bremen. All indications were that he would miss the Qatar 2022 World Cup and that Aliou Cissé would not include him in the squad.

Many in the media said for sure that Mané would be out and a big loss for Senegal, but the country spoke up and demanded that he be included at all costs because he is the heart and soul of this team.

In the end, Mané will be at Qatar 2022. Aliou Cissé has also included three La Liga players in his squad, Betis defender Youssouf Sabaly, Rayo Vallecano midfielder Pathé Ciss and Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson.

But Mané's story with Senegal's bid to reach the World Cup does not end with a call-up. His country has thrown itself into his recovery to the point that Senegal's Fatma Moura, FIFA's general secretary, said: "We are going to use wizards. I don't know if they will be effective, but in this case we will use them anyway. We are waiting for miracles, he has to be there!

Senegal will resort to an esoteric ritual performed by Muslim religious teachers to ask them to bring their star player back in time to play at least one match against Qatar or Ecuador.

Senegal are in Group A with the hosts, the Netherlands and Ecuador.

Their first match is on Monday 21 against the Netherlands, the second on Friday 25 against Qatar and the 29th against Ecuador.

Goalkeepers: Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers/ING), Alfred Gomis (Rennes/FRA), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea/ING).

Defenders: Pape Abou Cissé (Olympiakos/GRE), Abdou Diallo (Leipzig/GER), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco/FRA), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea/ING), Formose Mendy (Amiens/FRA), Youssouf Sabaly (Betis/ESP), Fodé Ballo Touré (Milan/ITA).

Midfielders: Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano/ESP), Krépin Diatta (Monaco/FRA), Gana Gueye (Everton/ING), Pape Gueye (Marseille/FRA), Cheikhou Kouyaté (Nottingham Forest/ING), Mamadou Loum (Reading/ING), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City/ING), Moustapha Name (Paphos/CHI), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham/ING).

Forwards: Boulaye Dia (Salernitana/ITA), Bamba Dieng (Marseille/FRA), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal/ESP), Sadio Mané (Bayern Munich/GER), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United/ING), Ismaila Sarr (Watford/ING), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor/TUR).

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