Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is amongst greater than a dozen African stars who’ve examined optimistic for coronavirus as groups play pleasant internationals throughout Europe to arrange for Cup of Nations qualifying.
A spokesman for the nationwide soccer federation confirmed to AFP that Keita had contracted the virus and was self isolating.
A spate of optimistic exams have pressured two internationals scheduled for Tuesday — Guinea v Gambia and Mali v Iran — to be cancelled.
Right here, AFP Sport rounds up soccer information from round Africa:
Guinea
Guinea needed to name off a pleasant match towards the Gambia scheduled for Portugal as optimistic coronavirus exams left them with inadequate gamers to type a staff.
Aside from the well being disaster, gamers informed reporters they needed to share resort rooms with three team-mates and bonuses for pleasant internationals have been ditched with none session.
Guinea got here from behind final weekend to defeat Cape Verde 2-1 in a warm-up for back-to-back Cup of Nations qualifiers towards Chad throughout November.
Angola
Angola pulled out of a pleasant match towards Guinea-Bissau in Portugal final weekend as a result of they weren’t glad with the measures taken by the west Africans to fight Covid-19.
Nonetheless, the journey to Europe by the Palancas Negras (Big Antelopes) was not wasted as they are going to face Mozambique in one other warm-up fixture.
Backside-of-the-table Angola meet neighbours the Democratic Republic of Congo at dwelling and away in Group D of the Cup of Nations, which additionally contains the Gambia and Gabon.
Mali
Mali scrapped a pleasant towards Iran in Turkish Mediterranean resort Antalya after the variety of gamers who examined optimistic for the coronavirus rose to 6.
A Malian soccer federation spokesman mentioned two instances have been detected on the eve of the match, with out naming the gamers.
Final week, goalkeeper Ali Yirango, defenders Aboubacar Kouyate and Molla Wague and midfielder Hamidou Traore have been sidelined by Covid-19.
Egypt
Zamalek clinched second place and relegated Haras el Hodoud by successful a Egyptian Premier League between the golf equipment 2-1 in Alexandria.
The victory gave Zamalek an unassailable four-point lead over Pyramids with one spherical to go and doomed 16th-place Haras to second division soccer subsequent season.
Amr el Halawany gave Haras an early lead, Mostafa Mohamed equalised halfway via the second half and Mahmoud Hamdy scored the 75th-minute winner.
Zambia
Thriller surrounds the dumping of Zambia captain Kabaso Chongo from the squad after a 2-1 pleasant worldwide loss in Kenya final weekend.
A nationwide affiliation spokesman mentioned the defender had been axed for unspecified “technical causes” days after coach Milutin Sredojevic warned that he wouldn’t tolerate indiscipline.
Chongo returned to his membership, Democratic Republic of Congo champions TP Mazembe, whereas Zambia travelled to South Africa and pulled off a shock 2-1 victory.
Ghana
Crystal Palace ahead Jordan Ayew has been named Ghana Footballer of the Yr by the nationwide sports activities writers’ affiliation.
The 29-year-old son of Ghana soccer legend Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew topped a ballot forward of latest Arsenal signing Thomas Partey and Mubarak Wakaso from Chinese language membership Jiangsu Suning.
Ayew is a youthful brother of Andre Ayew from second-tier English membership Swansea, who has been linked with a number of Premier League sides, together with Brighton and West Bromwich Albion.
South Africa
The 2020/2021 South African season kicks off Saturday with quarter-final matches in a winners-take-all knockout competitors, the MTN eight.
Whereas the competitors winners pocket R8 million rand, the opposite seven contenders should accept an look price.
Though Mamelodi Sundowns have been the dominant home staff for the previous 5 seasons, the MTN eight trophy has eluded the star-stacked Pretoria outfit.
