Sunderland have suffered a double setback ahead of the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after developments involving two of their African internationals.
The Black Cats received good news that several of their players will be available for this weekend’s Wear‑Tyne derby, with departures for national duty delayed by FIFA until after December 15 — meaning Sunderland can field their full squad against Newcastle United before AFCON commitments begin.
However, the club has been hit with two selection issues. First, Simon Adingra, the Ivorian winger who joined Sunderland in the summer and has featured in the Premier League this season, was surprisingly left out of the Ivory Coast’s AFCON squad entirely. Adingra’s omission — reportedly due to a lack of minutes on the pitch this season — represents a personal disappointment for the 24‑year‑old and a missed opportunity for international exposure.
The second blow surrounds Habib Diarra, Sunderland’s Senegalese midfielder. Diarra, who has been sidelined since undergoing groin surgery in September, had been in a race against time to recover and earn a place in Senegal’s final AFCON squad. The decision on his inclusion was confirmed as being entirely up to Senegal’s head coach, with Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris stating that the club would not influence the national team’s selection process.
Senegal has since announced its 28‑man AFCON squad, which does include Diarra despite his long layoff. The national team coaching staff expressed confidence that he would be fit in time for the tournament, even though he has not played competitive football this season.
For Sunderland, the uncertainty surrounding Diarra’s fitness means that there is no guarantee he will be available for significant portions of the Premier League schedule in December and early January if he joins up with Senegal ahead of AFCON. The tournament runs from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco and is set to impact Premier League squads across England.
With Adingra unavailable at international level and Diarra’s situation still unresolved, Sunderland face potential gaps in their squad during a demanding period of domestic fixtures. The outcomes of both players’ international decisions will be monitored closely by supporters and club officials alike as AFCON approaches.
