Sunderland’s seven AFCON-bound players set to play in Wear Tyne derby

Sky Sports report that all seven of Sunderland’s Africa Cup of Nations-bound players are expected to feature in next weekend’s Wear‑Tyne derby, the first Premier League meeting with Newcastle United in nine years.

It is a huge boost for Sunderland, who have relied heavily on their African core in a strong start to the 2025/26 season. The club sits sixth in the Premier League table on 22 points after 13 games, reflecting an impressive return to the top flight.

Newcastle, by contrast, are mid‑table in 13th place with 18 points from 13 league matches, a start widely viewed as underwhelming given recent expectations.​

Bertrand Traore, Simon Adinga, Noah Sadiki, Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi, Arthur Masuaku, and Reinildo Mandeva will then quickly switch focus from derby emotion to AFCON 2025 in Morocco.

Their national teams have been drawn into some heavyweight groups: hosts Morocco are in Group A with Mali, Zambia and Comoros, while defending champions Ivory Coast headline Group F alongside Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique. Group C features Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania. Several Sunderland stars could face each other again on continental duty soon after clashing with Newcastle in England.