Regis Le Bris on Chemsdine Talbi and Habib Diarra after bizarre AFCON forfeit ruling | OneFootball

Regis Le Bris says the fallout from the decision to overturn the AFCON final has felt strange for Sunderland duo Chemsdine Talbi and Habib Diarra. Both were involved, Diarra with Senegal and Talbi with Morocco.

Earlier this week, the Confederation of African Football appeals board ruled that Senegal had breached tournament regulations, recording the match as a forfeit and an official 3-0 Morocco win. The ruling would strip Diarra of a title, with Senegalese authorities intending to appeal.

The final was goalless into stoppage time when referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty after a VAR review of a challenge on Brahim Diaz. Outraged, head coach Pape Thiaw led Senegal off the pitch and play was halted for 17 minutes. They returned, Diaz’s kick was saved by Edouard Mendy, full-time was signalled, then Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye struck in extra time for Senegal.

Le Bris described the saga as unusual for both players and felt neither overreacted. He stressed that, for them, the game was settled on the pitch and anything determined elsewhere does not feel as if it counts.

Looking ahead, he felt the three-week break between Sunday’s Newcastle United tie and the next Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur could be useful. Sunderland might have between four and eight players injured, the squad core is not large and there are many inexperienced players. Post-break availability remains uncertain because players have other matches and could pick up knocks.

Source: Sunderland Echo