AFCON: Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly Test Positive for COVID
Due to coronavirus infection, both Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly will miss the opening game for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Runners-up at this year’s tournament, the Teranga Lions face Zimbabwe in their first Group B match on Monday (13:00 GMT).
Mendy, Koulibaly, and Famara Diedhiou have been isolated from the rest of the squad.
In his words, Aliou Cisse, Senegal coach said: “It’s a difficult and complicated situation.”
Cisse looks set to have just 17 players available for the match in Bafoussam because of several Covid-19 cases and injuries.
“We are going to be competitive and those there are going to play for those who are absent. We are still going into the game against Zimbabwe full of confidence.”
Aymen Barkok and Auyoub El Kaabi will be unable to play against Ghana in Senegal’s Group C opener in Yaounde on Monday after developing positive tests.
Senegal’s Group B opponents Guinea and Malawi also lost players to positive tests.
The Napoli player said he had been immunized and says he does not exhibit any symptoms. Koulibaly is the captain of his country.
Injury has prevented the 30-year-old centre-back from playing since 1 December.
The Senegal team departed for Cameroon on Wednesday without six other players who had tested positive before they left for the country.
The following players were left behind in Dakar: Alfred Gomis, Saliou Ciss, Bamba Dieng, Mame Baba Thiam, Pape Matar Sarr, and Nampalys Mendy.
AFCON has Seriously Been Affected…read more on Newstraffic.com.ng