Failing to ensure sporting fairness, this should give a little spice to the start of the competition.
This Sunday, the kickoff of the CAN will be given in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with a match between the host country and Burkina Faso.
But the Stallions will have to do without four of their players and several members of the staff, who tested positive for coronavirus on the eve of the meeting.
What to infuriate visitors, who blame the organization for having breached its own health protocol.
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Initially, the African Football Confederation had explained that it would mandate an independent laboratory to carry out PCR tests two days before each match.
According to Firmin Sanou, nothing would have gone as planned for Burkina.
“A medical team arrived on Friday morning but we checked with the CAF who told us that it was not from them.
We therefore refused these tests.
CAF was supposed to send it to us in the afternoon but it arrived at 11 p.m.
The 48-hour deadlines were therefore not respected and in addition, we were given antigens, not PCRs ... "
The breeder tested positive
"We have carried out the tests which inform us of 4 to 5 cases of Covid," he continued.
I say 4 or 5 because they say that our first player tested did not take the test… ”“ If we don't agree, can we be entitled to re-test positive players?
We must have explanations.
It's a scandal, said Bertrand Traoré, the captain of the selection.
We want to know more.
We prepared for this first match, we got everyone back and that's what happens.
"
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The consequences are indeed heavy for the Stallions.
According to Burkinabé media, several executives are among the positive cases, including one of their best players, Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba, and their coach Kamou Malo.
Burkina's second group match will take place on January 13, against Cape Verde.