Just before the opening of the African Championship, a heavy blow to the Togolese team.
The captain - Pierre Emerick Obamyang - was found positive for Corona upon his arrival in Cameroon, after a video of him celebrating with his teammates in Dubai on the eve of the tournament.
The 32-year-old now needs to go into isolation and is in great doubt for Gabon's first two games against the Comoros Islands on Monday and Ghana four days later.
Although it is not clear exactly how Obmiang contracted the virus, he was photographed in Dubai spending the night with Mario Lemina, a teammate, who has also been tested since positive.
Mario Lemina & Pierre Emerick Aubameyang videoed partying in Dubai 4 days before AFCON begins, seemingly without a care for COVID-19.
Both have now tested positive for the virus.
(🎥 @ Stockton928) pic.twitter.com/V4xA1W7uqo
- Get French Football News (@GFFN) January 6, 2022
Arsenal have given Obmiang an exemption to leave early ahead of the tournament after manager Mikel Arteta decided he would not be on the squad for the game against Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend.
Arsenal captain's headband was recently taken from Obamyang after he committed a number of disciplinary offenses.
Arteta decided that Obamyang was not setting a good example to the rest of the squad, claiming he lacked the "commitment and passion" to play for Arsenal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has tested positive for COVID-19 upon arriving for the Africa Cup of Nations after a video emerged of him partying in Dubai.
pic.twitter.com/unVCoFtNw3
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 6, 2022
As a result, Obmiang was told to train away from the rest of his teammates and he was allowed to join Gabon several days earlier than the time his team convened.
Arsenal, on the other hand, left Thomas Parti of Ghana, Nicola Pepe of Ivory Coast and Egyptian Muhammad Elnani on the roster until after the game against the champions.
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