Sadio Mane included in Senegal World Cup squad after witch doctor claim but boss hints former Liverpool star likely to miss first group game against Netherlands

Sadio Mane has been included in Senegal’s World Cup squad despite suffering an injury scare on Tuesday.

The former Liverpool ace limped off in the 20th minute of Bayern Munich’s 6-1 win over Werder Bremen sparking fears his World Cup dreams were over.

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Following the game Bayern confirmed he had suffered an injury to his right fibula and will miss Saturday's trip to basement-boys Schalke.

Such was the panic caused by the injury, Senegalese senior executive Fatma Samoura admitted her country were willing to go to the extent of using witch doctors to help heal their star player.

She told French radio station Europe 1: “We are going to use witch doctors.

“I don’t know [if they’re effective] but in this instance, we’re going to use them anyway.

“We are hoping for miracles. He has to be there!”

Despite his inclusion, Senegal boss Aliou Cisse appeared to rule Mane out of their opening game but assured fans that he would not need surgery on the injury.

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"We are monitoring the situation and have sent one of our doctors to assess him," Cisse told reporters on Friday.

"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.

"We want the situation to evolve in two-three weeks. I don't want to rule him out."

Senegal kick off their World Cup campaign with a mouth-watering clash against Netherlands on November 21 followed by games with host nation Qatar and Ecuador.

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Also included is Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr who is yet to make an appearance for Antonio Conte’s side since his move from French side Metz.

Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly will captain Cisse’s side and is joined by Blues goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate also made the cut as did Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye and Leicester City's Nampalys Mendy.

Sheffield United striker Iliman Ndiaye, QPR shot-stopper Seny Dieng and Watford’s Ismaila Sarr were also named in the 26-man squad.

Senegal squad

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

Defenders: Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan), Pape Abdou Cisse (Olympiakos), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Formose Mendy (Amiens), Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis).

Midfielders: Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Mamadou Loum Ndiaye (Reading), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City), Moustapha Name (Pafos), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur).

Forwards: Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor), Bamba Dieng (Marseille), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal), Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Ismaila Sarr (Watford).