Senegal and Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra sidelined for eight weeks

Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris has confirmed that Senegal international Habib Diarra will be sidelined for between six and eight weeks after suffering a hamstring injury.

Diarra picked up the injury during Sunderland’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Fulham last weekend, dealing a significant blow to both the Black Cats and the Senegal national team.

The midfielder had made an immediate impact in the match, providing an assist as Sunderland secured the narrow victory. However, his promising performance was cut short by the injury.

Le Bris confirmed the extent of the setback while expressing his disappointment over the timing of the injury.

“Habib is out for about 6-8 weeks, which is a shame after the impact he made against Fulham,” Le Bris said.

“It’s frustrating, but we have to manage it and we will find solutions.”

The injury represents a major setback for Diarra, who had begun to establish himself as an important player for Sunderland following his recent performances.

His absence could also affect Senegal ahead of the upcoming international fixtures. The Lions of Teranga are preparing for the opening two matchdays of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and Diarra could now face a race against time to return to full fitness.

Senegal will be hoping the midfielder makes a swift recovery as they begin another campaign towards qualifying for Africa’s biggest international football competition.