Simon Adingra 'disappointed' to miss AFCON but looking to take Sunderland opportunity
In the 2024 AFCON final, Adingra was named man of the match as Ivory Coast triumphed over Nigeria.
Simon Adingra scored his first goal for Sunderland in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United, when he and most observers thought he would be at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.
Named man of the match in the 2024 AFCON final, which Ivory Coast won, Adingra was a surprise omission when the squad was announced. Six other Sunderland players are at the tournament — Reinildo, Arthur Masuaku, Chemsdine Talbi, Bertrand Traore, Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki.
Adingra started Sunderland’s two opening Premier League games following his £21million transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer. But he struggled to retain his place and said club form had an impact internationally.
“It was tough,” Adingra said after the Leeds game, “I didn’t start well and I didn’t have a lot of playing time. Obviously, if you don’t play for your club, you can’t make it to the national team.
“The last AFCON, I participated in it, to win it with my national team, so of course I was expecting to go, but … another plan. I’m here now, full focus on Sunderland.
“I was not playing enough, and now we have some team-mates missing in the squad. It’s my opportunity now. I feel that I am ready, I have to show my coach he can count on me.”
Sunderland’s head coach, Regis Le Bris, has spoken to Adingra about the situation. Adingra, who will be 24 on Thursday, said his new colleagues have also been supportive.
“It was a disappointing period for me not to be with my national team,” Adingra said. “But at the same time, I have my opportunity now here and it’s up to me to step up and show the coach. He has been good, like my team-mates, the whole club, they have all been supporting me. They know how I feel, not being there.
“It was really good to score and in front of our fans, my first goal for Sunderland, a good feeling. Obviously, I’ve had a tough moment during the start of the season. It was a little bit challenging for me but today I had my chance, my opportunity. I hope I will keep going.”
Le Bris was sympathetic. “I think his intentions have been very good,” he said of Adingra. “He thought that he did not start very well with us, but I think it was just a normal situation when you change your team-mates and change your club. He would have liked to have started better, but that wasn’t the case. He was a bit disappointed at that time.
“I think he felt the support of the club, though — his team-mates, the coaching staff. We trust him. He is a really good winger, and after that, it was just a question of confidence. When you deliver the key pass or you score, it changes everything. You play with more freedom.”
The absence of other African players gives Adingra fresh opportunities and Sunderland also have injuries. Dan Ballard will have a scan on Monday to assess the full extent of an ankle injury. The 1-1 draw with Leeds kept them in seventh place in the Premier League.