Egypt's football team struck by coronavirus ahead of African Cup of Nations
Egypt's football team struck by coronavirus ahead of African Cup of Nations
The match is Egypt's first in the competition since losing out to Senegal on penalties in March.
2 min read
Egyptian fans had hoped for better luck after heartbreak at this year's final [Getty]
The Egyptian football team has been struck by a coronavirus outbreak ahead of a brace of qualifying matches for the this month.
The Pharoah’s , Mohammed el-Shennawy, is the first confirmed case to be announced by the , but more positive tests are feared to follow.
“When Shennawy received his positive test, he was immediately isolated at the hotel” said the union’s statement on facebook.
“The team’s medical staff then conducted two additional swabs on the goalkeeper, both of which came back positive - and then the rest of the team were informed,” it continued.
All players had received negative tests when they entered training for the run of fixtures, according to the union.
The team is due to face Ethiopia this evening, in their first fixture since Egypt lost against Senegal in Olembé on penalties.
Captain Mohammed Salah, having returned from a season of taxing Liverpool duties, is due to lead his country out at the Cairo International Stadium as Egypt kick off their campaign to qualify for the next instalment of the competition in Ivory Coast next summer.
Ahead of the North-East African clash, the squad took part in several training sessions including infected goalkeeper Mohammed el-Shennawy.
If the game goes ahead, play will start in Cairo at 8pm local time.
