By Obaloluwa Joshua, LAGOS
Two members of the Egyptian national team have tested positive for COVID-19 just one day before travelling to Cameroon to take part in the AFCON.
The Pharaohs were set to travel to Garoua on Saturday morning where they will play their group-stages games with Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau, with their clash against Sudan being held in Yaoundé.
However, they will have to leave behind two members in the team, namely Egypt goalkeeping and legend Essam El-Hadary and Zamalek keeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal after the duo contracted COVID-19.
It has not been confirmed yet whether the duo will miss the whole tournament or will travel later to join their teammates, especially as the CAF allows players who have recovered from COVID-19 to take part in the games, but after some medical tests.
Abou-Gabal, 32, was expected to be the backup keeper for the Pharaohs in Cameroon behind Al Ahly’s Mohamed El-Shennawy, with also young keepers Mohamed Sobhi of Phraco FC and ENPPI’s Mahmoud Gad also being named in the squad.
Despite their talent, both Sobhi and Gad lack international experience have never represented the Pharaohs on any occasion, but were also part of the Egypt squad that played in the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Essam El-Hadary, nicknamed the High Dam, was set to take part in the AFCON as a coach for the first time, having already represented Egypt across seven different tournaments, most recently in 2017.
The 48-year-old was an integral part of the team that won three consecutive AFCONs between 2006 to 2010 as well as lifting the cup back in 1998 as a backup keeper.
