Patrick Vieira says Sadio Mane still wants to contribute to Senegal, despite the Al-Nassr forward being left out of the squad for a second successive international gathering.

Mane will miss Senegal’s two matches against Sudan on 12 and 16 November, having also been unavailable for Vieira’s first squad because of physical problems.

This time, the 33-year-old’s absence is due to family reasons. Vieira said Mane had chosen to remain with his relatives during an important event.

“No, no, no. Sadio is someone who still feels he has a lot to give to the national team, and I share that view as well,” Senegal manager Vieira said at a news conference on Thursday.

He later explained the decision behind Mane’s withdrawal from the squad.

“During this gathering, there is going to be an event. He wants to be close to his family and that is something I understand,” Vieira said.

“We agreed together that he could stay close to his family because that is what he wanted to do.”

Vieira’s comments will offer reassurance to Senegal, although the timing of Mane’s prolonged absence has prompted questions about whether the country’s most prominent current player could be considering international retirement.

Several established Senegal internationals have ended their careers with the national team since the disappointing 2026 World Cup. Cherif Ndiaye announced his retirement at the end of August, followed by Edouard Mendy in September and Ismail Jakobs in late October.

That sequence has added significance to Mane’s omission, particularly given his importance to Senegal and his long-standing attachment to the national side.

Vieira had also previously sounded positive about Jakobs before the defender eventually confirmed his decision to retire internationally. However, there is currently no indication that Mane is preparing to make a similar announcement.

A decision of that significance would also be expected to come directly from a player of Mane’s stature, rather than being inferred from an absence caused by personal circumstances.

For now, Senegal can remain confident that the forward has not turned his back on the team. Nevertheless, after two consecutive gatherings without their emblematic number 10, anticipation surrounding Mane’s return will be considerable.