Senegal got off to a timid start to their U20 World Cup. Defeated from the outset against Japan (0-1), the Cubs could not defeat Israel (1-1) on Wednesday. But if they still managed to snatch a precious point, they owe it largely to Mamadou Gning, who had just come into play. Portrait of this young player hitherto unknown to the battalion.
It is an understatement to say that Mamadou Gning turned into a providential man on Wednesday at the Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona. By bringing him into play a quarter of an hour from the end in place of Ibrahima Seck, Malick Diaf, the coach of the Cubs, had the right intuition. The kid, who is only 16 years old (!), has indeed dynamited the Senegalese troops. With a perfectly brushed cross, he allowed Pape Demba Diop to bring his team back to equality in the 80th minute of play. point gleaned is, rightly, considered valuable and life-saving given the scenario of the game. To qualify for the round of 16, Senegalese will have to win their match against Colombia, this Saturday, still in the lair that bears the name of the 1986 world champion. Gning’s performance was in any case crucial and raised many expectations for the rest of the competition. Many observers and supporters of the Cubs were indeed eager to see him in action.
The detonator 💫🤩 pic.twitter.com/Sqs212rZMo
— FSF (@Fsfofficielle) May 24, 2023
Unfortunately, this will not be the case since the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced very bad news about him on Friday evening. “Injured during the training session of May 2023, 25, Mamadou Gning is the victim of an incomplete fracture of the proximal end of the right fibula according to the radiographic exploration done today. As a result, the player is forfeited for the rest of the competition. Good recovery to him“, said the body through a press release.
Injured during the training session of May 2023, 25, Mamadou Gning is the victim of an incomplete fracture of the proximal end of the right fibula according to the radiographic exploration done today.
As a result, the player is forfeited for the rest of the competition. Good… pic.twitter.com/ZpIj3oYjOG
— FSF (@Fsfofficielle) May 26, 2023
A promising hope for Senegalese football
A hard blow, but it will take more to hinder his motivation. Indeed, do not be fooled by its youthful appearance: Mamadou Gning is a determined young man. To pursue a professional career, of course. Recruiters and staff of professional clubs are precisely numerous to scrutinize the meetings (even of chickens!) of the World U20. And the resident of Génération Foot, who had not played in the first match, certainly scored points with this thunderous entry against the Israeli team. His maturity and remarkable performance at such a young age make him one of the most promising players of his team (and of his generation!).
Mamadou Gning, who celebrated his 16 years on December 22 (two days after a certain Kylian Mbappé…), is ahead. Already in the group CAN U20 winner last March, he was once again part of the adventure with the Senegal junior team, the last step before the A’s. still a long way. But he seems launched, as his father already affirmed a few years ago, in remarks reported by wiwsport : “Those who are used to seeing him play football know full well that he has the potential to be a great footballer.“Given his precocity and his exciting debut in this World Juniors, where he knew how to be decisive thanks to his technical ease and his vision of the game, it is difficult to doubt the words of his father.
Injured during the training session of May 2023, 25, Mamadou Gning is the victim of an incomplete fracture of the proximal end of the right fibula according to the radiographic exploration done today.
As a result, the player is forfeited for the rest of the competition. Good… pic.twitter.com/ZpIj3oYjOG
— FSF (@Fsfofficielle) May 26, 2023
