Al Nassr FC forward Sadio Mané has been named in Senegal’s 28-man squad for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Mané, who previously played for Liverpool FC and FC Bayern Munich, was also picked for Senegal’s 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar but missed the tournament due to a knee injury.
During January’s Africa Cup of Nations final, Mané was the only Senegal player who stayed on the field after Morocco was given a stoppage-time penalty.
At 34, Mané encouraged his teammates to keep playing, and Senegal went on to win with an extra-time goal from Pape Gueye.
Later, the Confederation of African Football ruled in Morocco’s favor after Senegal’s controversial walk-off during the match.
At the World Cup, Mané will join Senegal’s attack with Nicolas Jackson from Bayern Munich, Iliman Ndiaye from Everton FC, and Ismaïla Sarr from Crystal Palace FC.
Head coach Pape Thiaw has also named experienced midfielder Idrissa Gueye, Habib Diarra from Sunderland AFC, and Pape Matar Sarr from Tottenham Hotspur FC in the provisional squad.
Thiaw must cut the squad down to FIFA’s official 26-player limit before the final deadline on June 2.
Senegal will start their World Cup campaign against France in New Jersey on June 16, then play Norway on June 22 and Iraq on June 26.
This year’s World Cup has expanded to 48 teams and will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Senegal World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli), Yehvann Diouf (Nice), Mory Diaw (Le Havre).
Defenders: Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Ilay Camara (Anderlecht), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon), Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea), El-Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham United), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray).
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Bara Ndiaye (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr), Bamba Dieng (Lorient), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahim Mbaye (Paris St-Germain), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace).
