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

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris says a bizarre African Cup of Nations ruling has left Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi in a strange spot. The manager called the overturned final outcome “a bit weird” for the pair.

The final was goalless in stoppage time when referee Jean Jacques Ndala, after a VAR check on a challenge on Brahim Diaz, awarded Morocco a penalty. Senegal’s head coach Pape Thiaw led his players off in protest, and after a 17-minute delay they returned. Diaz’s kick was saved by Edouard Mendy, full-time was blown, then Pape Gueye later struck in extra time, seemingly clinching it for Senegal.

Earlier this week the Confederation of African Football appeals board ruled Senegal had breached tournament regulations, so the match is to be recorded as a forfeit. The official result is 3-0 to Morocco, which means Diarra has technically lost his title, with Senegalese authorities vowing to appeal.

Le Bris said: “It’s a bit weird. They didn’t overreact, to be fair.” He added that players still feel the game was settled on the pitch, and that anything decided elsewhere does not feel the same to them.

Looking ahead, Le Bris suggested the international break, giving Sunderland three weeks between Sunday’s Newcastle United clash and their next Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur, could help reset. He cautioned they might have between four to eight players injured, the squad core is not big, and inexperience makes absences harder. He warned it could still be the case after the break, since players have other games and might pick up knocks.

Source: Sunderland Echo