Senegal National team head coach Aliou Cisse has named his final 26-member squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup set for Qatar.

The Teranga Lions who are in Group A alongside hosts Qatar, Ecuador and Netherlands will open their campaign against Netherlands on 21 November 2022.

Cisse has included the country’s all-time leading goal-scorer Sadio Mane who limped off just 20 minutes into the match for Bayern Munich in a Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen on Tuesday night.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann disclosed that Mane took a blow to his tibial plateau and will miss out on Bayern Munich’s next Bundesliga match against Schalke as the club announced further tests would be conducted to assess the extent of the injury.

On the inclusion of Mane to the squad, Cisse said: “We are monitoring the situation and have sent one of our doctors to assess him. On Thursday, Sadio spent the whole day in Munich before travelling to Austria for further tests. The good news is that he does not need an operation.”

Cisse further disclosed that one of the doctors attached to the National team will assess Mane and expressed delight that his injury will not require him to undergo any operation and the next 2-3 weeks will determine the exact fate of the forward.

Chelsea duo of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and defender Kalidou Koulibaly have also cut into the final squad.

After missing the triumphant outing for the Teranga Lions earlier this year, Monaco midfielder Krepin Diatta will be part of the ‘pride’ heading to Qatar to rewrite history of the 2002 class which reached the quarterfinals in their first ever appearance.

Meanwhile, fans from across the African continent have reacted to the final squad selected by Aliou Cisse with most of them expressing satisfaction with the squad.

Others have also questioned how impactful a lack of adequate game time for some players will have on the team’s overall performance in Qatar.

Sabs Ndanaan: “A balanced list! Good competition and a speedy recovery to Sadio.”

Alexios Danilo: ‘‘No surprises in this list, good player overall but some lack playing time at their clubs… Let’s hope there was no damage. Come on Lions.’’

Seny Faty:“Very good list from Aliou Cissé. We will win 2022 world cup in Qatar to honour Africa”
After having an impressive run with the national team, left-back Saliou Ciss has been left out of the squad. The 33-year-old is yet to play competitive football this season because he has not found a club to join after leaving French Ligue 2 side Nancy.“

Ndiouma Sarr: “Good luck coach Thank you for the presence of Bamba Dieng Sadio ilimane Ndiaye Seny Ndiaye and it’s a pity for the absence of Saliou Ciss”

@Wanjikumartin51: “African kids are born different. You get broken today and two weeks you’re a school captain for your high school football team. Just like that and you win.”

Jjaggwe Stephen: “News the whole of Africa has been waiting for.”