DAKAR: Senegal’s Sadio Mane is a key selection in the 28-man World Cup squad named by coach Pape Thiaw on Thursday as the influential forward looks to make up for lost time having missed the finals four years ago in Qatar through injury. Thiaw will have to trim his squad by two players ahead of the final deadline toward the end of this month. Mane remains a leading player for a star-studded Senegal lineup that looks to be the most potent of the 10 African qualifiers for the finals in the US, Mexico and Canada, with a blend of experience and youthful athleticism in the squad. The 34-year-old Al-Nassr player is likely to lead the line but also selected are Bayern Munich forward Nicolas Jackson plus Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye and Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr. Bayern’s 18-year-old midfielder Bara Ndiaye has also been called up but there is no place for Malang Sarr, who has excelled this season with Lens. Idrissa Gueye, also of Everton, has been included despite missing the tail-end of the season through injury, with Sunderland’s Habib Diarra and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr also midfield options. Experienced center-back Kalidou Koulibaly has been picked along with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Senegal were the best team at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and edged the hosts 1-0 in a contentious final that was later awarded to the North Africans, a matter that is before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Senegal have been drawn in Group I at the World Cup and open their campaign against France on June 16 in New Jersey in a repeat of their famous 2002 World Cup meeting in which the African side came out on top against the then-holders. They also take on Norway at the same venue (June 22) and
