Senegalese forward Sadio Mane has revealed that he not only wants to appear at the World Cup with the Teranga Lions, but has the ‘crazy’ ambition to win the tournament.
Mane wrote his name into Senegalese football legend by scoring the decisive penalty in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, leading the West Africans to victory over Egypt and a first-ever continental title.
The Lions and the Pharaohs will cross swords later this month over two legs in a 2022 World Cup CAF Third Round qualification tie, with the aggregate winners earning a place at the finals in Qatar.
Mane obviously wants to guide Senegal past the challenge of the North Africans and into a second successive (third overall) appearance at the top global tournament, but he argues that even more could be achieved at Qatar 2022 for the Teranga Lions.
“The World Cup is my new dream,” Mane told L’Equipe, as quoted by Afrique Sport.
“First, I will have to qualify but I want to believe in crazy projects and winning the World Cup with Senegal is one of them.
“If we succeed, of course, I will address all the great players who aspire every year to the Ballon d’Or.”
Senegal and Egypt will meet in Cairo on Friday 25 March and in Dakar on Tuesday 29 March for their World Cup qualification tie.
