AFCON: 12 Tunisian players, coach, test COVID-19 positive ahead of knockout match against Nigeria
No fewer than twelve Tunisian players have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their crucial match against Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the ongoing African Cup of Nations. slated for today.
Addressing journalists on Saturday during a press conference on the eve of the crucial encounter, Jalal Al-Qadri, Tunisia’s assistant coach, said Wahbi Khazri, captain of the Carthage Eagles, and eleven others have contracted COVID-19 and will not be available for the game.
The COVID-19 hit list includes Tunisia’s head coach, Mondher Kebaier, who was absent during the pre-match press conference on Saturday at the media centre of the Roumdje Adjia Stadium, Garoua.
The development implies that the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia will likely be forced to field a weakened team against the Super Eagles when both teams face off in one of Sunday’s round of 16 matches.
The Carthage Eagles had merely scraped through into the knockout phase as one of the best losers from the group stage.
With 12 members of the Carthage Eagles’ first team squad having tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the crucial game against Nigeria, the Tunisians will no doubt have a daunting task against a rejuvenated Eagles team led by interim manager Augustine Eguavoen.
Tunisia and Nigeria played the third place match at the AFCON 2019 edition in Egypt where the Super Eagles snapped a lone goal victory courtesy of Odion Ighalo’s lone goal which gave Nigeria the bronze medal consolation.
