Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner increased pressure on Senegal winger Ismaïla Sarr on Tuesday, warning that the forward must feature for the club before the Africa Cup of Nations or risk missing the tournament entirely.
Glasner first addressed Sarr’s condition on Sunday after the player suffered an ankle injury.
He described significant swelling and said the medical staff needed more time to assess the damage.
Glasner added that Sarr looked set to miss several matches, hinting that the club might not see him again before AFCON 2025.
Some encouraging updates emerged in the meantime, but Glasner kept a cautious tone when he returned to the subject during his Tuesday press conference.
He acknowledged noticeable improvement in Sarr’s ankle yet remained firm about the short-term implications for Crystal Palace’s fixtures. He confirmed that the winger would not feature in the club’s upcoming matches this week.
Glasner then outlined two scenarios. He said Sarr either returns to the pitch for Palace before leaving for AFCON or risks missing the tournament.
The manager noted that Sarr could still play one or two matches if his condition improves, describing that possibility as a “glimmer of hope.”
However, he also revealed ongoing concerns over ligament issues in the player’s ankle. He stressed that the club would continue monitoring Sarr closely over the coming days.
The coach said he felt optimistic overall but warned that without a clear recovery, Sarr could face the prospect of skipping AFCON completely.
His comments raise tension around the player’s situation. The Senegalese technical staff and supporters now wait for further clarity on the true extent of the injury as uncertainty grows ahead of the continental competition.
