Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has delivered a major blow to Eagles fans and Senegal supporters alike, confirming that star winger Ismaïla Sarr has suffered an ankle ligament injury during the club’s 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
Sarr was forced off after a heavy challenge midway through the second half, and early assessments from the club’s medical team suggest the damage is more serious than initially feared. Glasner revealed after the match that the Senegalese international is facing a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines.
For Senegal, the news comes at a terrible time. With the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations just months away, Sarr—one of the Teranga Lions’ most explosive attacking threats—is now at real risk of missing the tournament. His pace, directness and creativity have long made him a key figure for the national team, and his potential absence would be a huge setback for coach Aliou Cissé.
Crystal Palace will conduct further scans in the coming days to determine the full extent of the injury, but the early outlook is worrying. Both club and country now await updates, hoping for positive news as Sarr begins his recovery.
