“We Are A Weaker Team Without Mane”... Says Senegal's Edouard Mendy Who Tips Netherlands As One Of The Favourites To Win The World Cup.

Senegal's goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy has admitted that his teammate, Sadio Mane is 'irreplaceable' going into the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Mane was due to represent Senegal at the 2022 World Cup which begins on Sunday in Qatar, but he has been forced to withdraw entirely from the tournament due to injury.

It was confirmed on Thursday by the Senegal football federation that the Teranga Lions will be without their star player Sadio Mane. 

His international team-mate Mendy has now reacted to the news saying that the Teranga Lions of Senegal are weaker without Mane in the team.

“When I found out about Sadio’s injury, I was shocked for a few minutes. Mendy told Wettbasis in an interview.

“He’s our best player, our leader. Without him, we might be more unpredictable from a playful point of view but still weaker. He’s simply irreplaceable.”

Mane spent six years at Liverpool from 2016 until 2022, helping Jurgen Klopp’s side win their first-ever Premier League in 30 years, the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

The 30-year-old moved to Bayern Munich last summer and has so far scored 11 goals and four assists across his first 23 games for the German giants.

He also led his nation to glory in the Africa Cup of Nations in February this year, as he scored the winning penalty that saw the Teranga Lions beat the Pharaoh's of Egypt in a penalty shootout in the final and lift the trophy for the first-time ever.

Mane repeated the same feat against his former Reds teammate Mohammed Salah, netting the decisive spot-kick as Senegal beat Egypt on penalties in a crunch play-off late in March.

The win saw the reigning African champions grab one of Africa's five tickets for the World biggest sporting event in Qatar.

Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy, further went on to speak about their World Cup opening Group A game against the Netherlands on Monday;

“We Senegal, are particularly hungry and have a lot of plans,” Mendy told Wettbasis.

“Making it to the round of 16 in the World Cup should be the minimum goal.

“Starting against the Netherlands will not be a pleasant task at all. In my eyes, the Oranje team belongs to the extended circle of favourites to win this year World Cup.”

He continued; “At first glance, we might think that we have been relatively lucky with the draw. But it will still not be an easy task.

“Even in the group stage we are dealing with the Netherlands, among others, who have world-class players such as Frenkie De Jong, Virgil van Dijk and Memphis Depay,” 

When asked which opponents he was particularly eager to play against, Mendy said;

“If we do go through to the knockout stage, I’d look forward to playing the very best in the world, whether it’s Neymar with Brazil, Lionel Messi with Argentina or the England national team, where some of my club-mates play.”

Senegal begin their campaign against the Netherlands in Group A on Monday, before facing host nation Qatar on November 25, and South American side Ecuador on November 29 in same group.