Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been ruled out of Friday’s game against Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations.
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The Gabonese Football Federation said Confederation of African Football medical officials had diagnosed Aubameyang and teammates Axel Meye and midfielder Mario Lemina with “heart damage” after they returned from positive COVID-19 tests. The federation said CAF ‘didn’t want to take any risks’.
The teams tied 1-1.
Aubameyang tested positive at an airport upon arriving in Cameroon last week and has been placed in solitary confinement. He also missed Gabon’s opener, a 1-0 win over Comoros. The Arsenal player had since tested negative for the virus and was released from solitary confinement two days before the game against Ghana and was due to return to the squad.
Meye and Lemina had also been isolated after positive viral tests.
Gabon played against Ghana without two other players due to the virus. Defenders Sidney Obissa and Lloyd Palun tested positive on Wednesday during the team’s mandatory testing 48 hours before their game.
Gabon coach Patrice Neveu also tested positive but returned a negative test before the Group C game and was allowed to take his place on the sidelines.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this reproduction.
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