Africa Cup of Nations watch ...

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Smug in Boots

Smug in Boots

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Jan 27, 2011
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... as it'll creep up on us and have an effect in various ways so we may as well get used to it.
(Please add to this or correct anything.)

The Africa Cup of Nations is taking place in Morocco between 21st December, 2025 and 18th January, 2026

The first thing that strikes me is how the club will prepare those players who'll come in for those going to AFCON. They'll need to be ready, which means the players they'll replace can't have 'all the minutes' beforehand. Those who get to the final, of the AFCON, could miss 7 or 8 Sunderland games, which is a huge chunk of the season.

Who'll be available and who will come in ...

... Neil, Mundle, O'Nien, Cirkin, Alese, etc?
 
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It's a bu**er mind this thing.

Real opportunity for Neil I think, but is he commited? I'd really like to see Mundle back. If that lad gets fit and stays fit there is a serious player there.

Hopefully they all come back early and not crocked!
 
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Mad Maxim said:
Googling around, because afcon continues into 2026, same year as the world cup then we have the option to refuse to release them (only have to release players for one international tournament per year). That'd go down well.
Click to expand...

I automatically expect Sunderland players to prefer to play for Sunderland ...

... so it's quite a shock when you see the likes of Hume happy to miss games to play for their country <laugh>
 
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Mad Maxim said:
Googling around, because afcon continues into 2026, same year as the world cup then we have the option to refuse to release them (only have to release players for one international tournament per year). That'd go down well.
Click to expand...
Won’t happen. Not a single player would prefer to stay here than go to AFCON.
 
Mad Maxim said:
Googling around, because afcon continues into 2026, same year as the world cup then we have the option to refuse to release them (only have to release players for one international tournament per year). That'd go down well.
Click to expand...

Well be stacked positional wise by then,mate. Not a problem.
 
Ha'way the Lads, do us proud!

We'll have scouts watching all these games, our players will be spreading the word and we'll sign someone off the back of it ...

... ironically it's absolutely pissing down <laugh>

"Do They Know It's Christmas, where nothing ever grows, no rain nor rivers flow"
 
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Just posted this on my Facebook

Breaking News

Sunderland AFC officially enter AFCON after fielding so many international stars we may as well host it at the Stadium of Light.

Bookies have us favourites. Sorry Egypt. Sorry Senegal.

And let’s not forget — Papa John’s Trophy winners

Mock it all you want… silverware is silverware. Funny how trophies “don’t matter” until you’ve got none, eh?

Meanwhile up the road, Newcastle fans are still on the open-top bus after winning the Carabao Cup last season — scenes like they’d lifted the World Cup, Champions League and cured world hunger all in one go.

We’ll just quietly add:

✔️ Domestic cup winners

✔️ AFCON contenders

✔️ Living rent-free in Newcastle minds

Haway the Lads ⚪️

Pass the Carabao Cup DVD again lads, we missed the first 400 replays.
 
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