AFCON: Tunisian Team Hit by Coronavirus

Tunisia’s national football team has been dealt a major blow ahead of their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) game against Gambia today, Thursday, 20 January.

Yesterday, the Tunisian Football Federation announced via its Facebook page that at least a dozen players out of its 28-man AFCON team had tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“This evening, the players took part in a training session with 16 players present and the rest absent due to COVID-19 contamination,” the post stated.

Several key players are among those afflicted, including attacking midfielder Wahbi Khazri, and goalies Ali Jemal and Aymen Dahmen.

The Carthage Eagles will still take on the Gambians in a decisive AFCON Group F meeting to determine the last 16 teams. AFCON rules state a team must play with at least 11 players, even if no goalkeeper is available.

Despite losing their opening game against Mali last Wednesday, 12 January, they crushed Mauritania 4-0 in the following match.

Tunisia managed to gain three points from their first two games, and they need one more point in order to cement their spot in the rest of the tournament and pick up the silverware like they did back in 2004.

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