Sunderland get surprise AFCON news as winger is left out of confirmed squad for tournament…

Sunderland receives unexpected AFCON news as winger is omitted from the confirmed squad for the tournament

Sunderland has been given an unforeseen boost in player availability this month – however, it brings disappointing news for one of their wingers.

Simon Adingra has been excluded from the Ivory Coast squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

The winger was largely anticipated to be among the seven Sunderland players leaving for the tournament following this weekend’s Wear-Tyne derby, but his limited playing time on Wearside resulted in his omission from the squad during the last international break.

The Ivory Coast squad for the forthcoming tournament has been announced today, and the 24-year-old is neither in the main squad nor listed as one of the two reserves.

While this development is advantageous for Sunderland during a challenging series of fixtures with other key players missing, it is a disappointing outcome for the player himself.

He played a crucial role in his nation’s victory at the last tournament in 2023, even earning the title of young player of the tournament. It seems the winger now has work ahead of him if he hopes to secure a place in the squad for next summer’s World Cup, a tournament he would have anticipated playing a significant role in at the beginning of the season.

This represents a notable setback for the young player, but it also opens up significant opportunities.

The wide positions were an area where Sunderland expected to be significantly affected by AFCON, with Bertrand Traoré already chosen by Burkina Faso and Chemsdine Talbi likely to be included in Morocco’s squad.

Although Enzo Le Fée has performed admirably on the left this season and Eliezer Mayenda is a viable option on the right, it is a position where head coach Régis Le Bris will face challenges.

Adingra appears poised for a series of opportunities in the starting XI, where he will aim to revitalize his campaign after a frustrating beginning to his time on Wearside.

Sunderland and AFCON – current situation

Noah Sadiki and Arthur Masuaku have been officially named in the DR Congo squad for the tournament, while Reinildo will play for Mozambique. With Traoré included, Sunderland’s total of confirmed absentees rises to four, and Talbi is widely anticipated to increase that number to five.

At this point, there is still uncertainty regarding Habib Diarra’s potential involvement with Senegal. The midfielder is recovering from groin surgery and is nearing a return; however, Le Bris stated after the 3-0 loss to Manchester City that he would not be fit to face Newcastle United on Sunday.

The tournament is set to begin next weekend and will last for approximately a month, with the group stages wrapping up by the end of December. Sunderland supporters will be able to watch the entire tournament on Channel 4 in the UK.