Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has expressed confidence that Sadio Mané could finally open his account at the World Cup when the Teranga Lions face Belgium in the round of 16 on Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
The former African champions go into the knockout tie with their captain yet to score in the tournament so far, although his overall contribution has still been significant in Senegal’s campaign.
Mané did, however, provide an assist in Senegal’s 2-3 defeat against Norway, a match in which he played an important creative role despite not finding the net himself.
As Senegal prepare for one of their biggest tests of the competition, attention has turned to whether their star forward can rediscover his scoring touch at a crucial stage of the tournament.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, Thiaw was asked about the form and importance of Senegal’s record goalscorer and responded with clear encouragement for his captain.
The coach spoke warmly about Mané’s status within the squad and expressed hope that the forward would soon deliver a decisive moment in front of goal.
“I hope our little brother Sadio also gets his goal. He is like a younger brother to us. And of course, big Sadio scoring would be great for us.” declared Pape Thiaw.
Thiaw’s comments reflected both the importance of Mané to the team and the supportive atmosphere within the Senegal squad as they prepare for the knockout phase of the tournament.
While Mané has not yet scored at this World Cup, his influence on Senegal’s attacking play has remained notable, with the team still relying heavily on his experience and leadership in key moments.
The coach also used the press conference to highlight other performers in the squad, pointing to positive contributions from teammates as Senegal look to maintain momentum in the competition.
He said: “Ismaïla Sarr deserves praise. I hope he keeps scoring. And I also hope Sadio opens his goal tally.”
Senegal now face a significant challenge against Belgium in the last 16, a match that will test their attacking efficiency and defensive discipline as they aim to progress further in the tournament.
The question surrounding the fixture is whether Mané can produce the decisive moment that has so far eluded him in the competition, with Senegal supporters hoping their captain’s experience and quality will prove vital in such a high-stakes encounter.
As the knockout stage intensifies, Senegal’s reliance on their key attacking figures is expected to remain central to their hopes of advancing, with Mané’s potential breakthrough a key talking point ahead of the match.
