Mane to miss friendlies with Republic of Ireland & England
Sadio Mane has been capped 111 times by Senegal
- Published
Sadio Mane has not been included in the Senegal squad for the forthcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and England after asking to be excused for the two matches.
Mane, 33, is the only notable omission from a 26-man squad announced by coach Pape Thiaw on Tuesday.
The former Liverpool player, now turning out for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, has won 111 caps for his country.
"It's a personal decision that is his private business, and I respect that as a coach," Thiaw told a news conference.
Mane was the subject of criticism for his last performances for Senegal in March, in which they drew with Sudan and beat Togo in World Cup qualifiers.
Thiaw has included one newcomer in his squad - midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara, who won the African Confederation Cup on Sunday with his Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane.
Seven players return to the squad after missing the March fixtures, including Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Everton's Iliman Ndiaye.
Senegal play the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Friday 6 June and then face England in Nottingham on Tuesday 10 June.
Senegal squad for Republic of Ireland and England games
Squad: Goalkeepers: Mory Diaw (Rodez), Yevhann Diouf (Stade Reims), Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli)
Defenders: Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi), El Hadj Malick Diouf (Slavia Prague), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Moussa Niakhate (Olympique Lyonnais), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa)
Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Monaco), Mamadou Lamine Camara (Renaissance Berkane), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Habib Diarra (Racing Strasbourg), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards: Boulaye Dia (Lazio), Idrissa Gueye (Metz), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Cherif Ndiaye (Red Star Belgrade), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace), Abdallah Sima (Stade Brest).