Senegal coach Patrick Vieira explains Sadio Mane’s absence from November AFCON qualifiers

Senegal head coach Patrick Vieira has explained why captain Sadio Mané will miss the Teranga Lions’ upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sudan.

The Al-Nassr forward was left out of Senegal’s 25-man squad for the November international break despite initially receiving a call-up, with Vieira confirming that his absence is due to personal and family reasons rather than an injury.

Senegal are scheduled to face Sudan on November 12 and 16 in the third and fourth rounds of the qualifiers as they continue their quest to secure a place at the continental tournament.

Speaking at a press conference, Vieira revealed that he had personally spoken with Mané, who requested permission to remain with his family to celebrate an important occasion.

“I spoke to Sadio on the phone. He did indeed receive his call-up. However, he is expecting a happy event and has chosen to stay with his family to fully enjoy this important moment. I explained my position to him and I fully accepted his decision. It is a personal and family decision that I fully respect,” Vieira said.

The Senegal coach made it clear that he had no problem respecting the forward’s wishes, describing the decision as a personal matter.

Mané’s absence will be significant for Senegal given his experience and influence within the squad, having established himself as one of the country’s most important players over the years.

The former Liverpool star remains a key figure for the Teranga Lions, but will now miss both encounters against Sudan as Vieira prepares his side for the upcoming qualifying assignments.