Sunderland handed selection lift as AFCON trio exit at round of 16 | OneFootball

Sunderland have received another selection lift after Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku and Bertrand Traore were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the round of 16.

"I'm confident because Senegal have a good squad but we stay humble. It's one game after another," said Habib Diarra to Sunderland's official website.

Earlier in the week, Reinildo Mandava and Mozambique lost 4-0 to Nigeria. On Tuesday, Sadiki and Masuaku's DR Congo fell 1-0 after extra time to Algeria, Adil Boulbina scoring in the 119th minute. Later, Traore's Burkina Faso were beaten 3-0 by Ivory Coast, with former Sunderland loanee Amad Diallo opening the scoring.

All three, along with Reinildo Mandava, are expected back on Wearside shortly. Wednesday night's Premier League trip to Brentford will come too soon for the quartet, although there is a chance they could feature in some capacity against Everton in the FA Cup on Saturday lunchtime. Sunderland then host Crystal Palace in the league on January 17.

Two Black Cats remain at AFCON. Chemsdine Talbi has appeared once for hosts Morocco and is in the squad to face Cameroon in Friday's 7pm quarter-final. At 4pm, record signing Habib Diarra hopes to feature for Senegal against Mali, having returned from a groin issue to make a December cameo against Brighton and two tournament outings, including a start against Benin in the round of 16.

Source: Sunderland Echo