AFCON latest explained as six Sunderland players ruled out of further Premier League fixtures
Sunderland are likely to without their AFCON players for at least another three Premier League fixtures
Sunderland will be without their AFCON absentees for at least one more Premier League fixture, and most likely another two.
All six Sunderland players at the tournament have seen their countries progress to the last 16 of the tournament, with Bertrand Traore’s Burkino Faso beating Sudan 2-0 on the final day of group fixtures to finish second in their group. While Reinildo’s Mozambique suffered a narrow defeat to Cameroon in their final group fixture, they have qualified for the knockout stages as one of the best third-place finishers.
Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Chemsdine Talbi and Habib Diarra had already played their part in securing a knockout place for DR Congo, Morocco and Senegal respectively. It rules all six players out of the trip to Spurs on Sunday, as the last 16 fixtures begin on Saturday afternoon. It most likely rules most if not all out of the trip to Brentford next Wednesday, as Burkino Faso and DR Congo play their last sixteen fixtures on Tuesday, while Reinildo is in action on Monday. Diarra’s Senegal face Sudan on Saturday, while holders Morocco face Tanzania on Sunday.
Anyone knocked out in the last 16 could be available to face Everton in the FA Cup next Saturday, with Sunderland then in action at home to Crystal Palace a week later. Any player whose nation makes it to the final four will miss all of those fixtures, returning for the trip to face West Ham later this month.
While it leaves Régis Le Bris with a long list of absentees in a very busy period of the season, the head coach says it is a scenario he was well prepared for and that the club will benefit from the confidence and momentum it will generate for the players involved in the long run.
Le Bris said: “I think we were expecting this, because they are good players with good teams. So we wish them the best, because I still think that the positives they experience will create positive vibes for us later, so we'll see.”
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Régis Le Bris gets Sunderland availability boost
Le Bris’s options have at least been bolstered by the return of Luke O’Nien from suspension, with the defender available to take his place in the squad to face Manchester City tonight.
While Dan Ballard will again be absent with an ankle injury for that game, Sunderland are hopeful that he could be back to face Spurs on Sunday.
Le Bris said: “Yeah, he's getting better, but he won't be available for the game tomorrow. We hope for the next fixture, so we'll see, but it's not serious.”