Senegal's AFCON Gambit: Ismaila Sarr in Danger of Missing Africa Cup of Nations
3 December 2025
Ismaila Sarr's AFCON Participation in Question
Crystal Palace's Austrian manager Oliver Glasner says Ismaïla Sarr's Africa Cup of Nations participation is in doubt due to an ankle ligament sprain that could keep him sidelined this month.
AFCON is hosted by Morocco, with the tournament kicking off on December 21.
Sarr sustained the injury in Palace's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last Sunday, about three weeks before the tournament begins.
Glasner told BBC Sport: "Ismaïla Sarr could miss Africa Cup of Nations; everything will depend on how quickly he recovers in the coming days."
He added: "He's dealing with a ligament sprain; it's not a complete tear, but the ankle is very swollen."
Palace's medical team are monitoring the situation closely. Senegal is expected to announce its squad for AFCON tomorrow morning, with the final list due to CAF by December 11.
What happens next
From a Premier League perspective, the potential absence heightens the challenge for Palace and tests Senegal's selection plans just weeks before the tournament in Morocco.
Meanwhile, Palace will be hoping for clarity on Sarr's status as the club balances domestic duties with international duty looming for Senegal. And yes, the football calendar keeps ticking—no rest for the wicked, only longer training sessions for the rest of us.
Punchline 1: If Sarr can't travel, Palace will finally discover the secret of a world-class striker who can score goals in absentia—the phantom finisher strikes again.
Punchline 2: And if Morocco's weather is as sunny as the photos suggest, Sarr might still be training in spirit—which, in football terms, is basically hiring a motivational playlist as your top scorer.
