AFCON update as Sunderland get clarity on Crystal Palace availability | OneFootball

Sunderland will be without Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi for next Saturday’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace as AFCON duties continue. According to Sunderland Echo, the pair are ruled out regardless of semi-final progress.

On Friday, Diarra played just over an hour as Senegal beat Mali 1-0, while Talbi was unused as hosts Morocco defeated Cameron 2-0. The semi-final line-up will be completed today, with Algeria facing Nigeria and Egypt meeting Ivory Coast.

Both players miss out because the semi-final losers play a third-place match next Saturday, with the final on Sunday.

Head coach Régis Le Bris should have four AFCON returnees available, with Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Bertrand Traore and Reinildo back on Wearside and expected to be in contention after a full week of training. Le Bris has previously said Masuaku could leave this month, and Standard Liege have been linked with a potential January move.

Diarra and Talbi will return in the days after the Palace game and should be able to play some part at West Ham United on 24 January.

Source: Sunderland Echo