Senegal have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations – meaning Sunderland’s potential new signing could miss part of the 2025-26 season
Senegal have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations – meaning Sunderland’s potential new signing could miss part of the 2025-26 season
Senegal Qualify for AFCON – Sunderland’s Potential New Signing Could Miss Part of 2025/26 Season
Sunderland may have to prepare for life without one of their potential new signings during a key stretch of the upcoming campaign, as Senegal have officially qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The qualification means that any Senegalese player signed by the Black Cats this summer could be unavailable for several weeks midway through the 2025/26 Championship season, depending on the tournament schedule and how far Senegal progress.
While Sunderland have yet to officially announce the Senegalese international they are targeting, speculation continues to swirl around a number of players linked with the Wearside club. Whoever the player may be, the club now faces the possibility of losing him to international duty in January and possibly into February 2026.
The 2025 AFCON is set to be held in Morocco, and will take place during the European domestic season, as is customary with the tournament’s calendar. This could result in players missing key league fixtures and cup ties, potentially affecting team balance and momentum during a critical period in the Championship promotion race.
Head coach Regis Le Bris (if appointed or current at the time) will need to weigh the impact of such absences carefully, particularly if the player in question is expected to play a central role in the team’s plans.
Sunderland’s recruitment team is believed to be aware of the AFCON scheduling conflict and is factoring it into transfer deliberations, though they remain committed to signing top-quality talent—regardless of international commitments.
As Sunderland aim to mount a serious promotion challenge, managing international absences like this one could prove decisive in how the season unfolds.
