Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been allowed to leave the Gabon squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and return to his club to continue his recovery from Covid-19, his national team coach said on Monday.

Midfielder Mario Lemina of French side Nice has also been sent back to his club, with neither having played a minute in Gabon’s two matches so far at the Cup of Nations, against the Comoros and Ghana.

“Given the medical problems that Pierre-Emerick and Mario have had, in agreement with the doctor, the president of the federation and the players, we have taken the wise decision to send them back to their clubs so they can be looked after there,” said Gabon coach Patrice Neveu at a press conference in Yaounde.

News of Aubameyang’s positive test, and that of Lemina, emerged on January 6, just four days before his team’s opening AFCON group game.

The duo then tested negative ahead of Gabon’s second match, a 1-1 draw against Ghana on Friday, but both were again left out of the team after some residue from their infection was detected.

Neveu played down concerns that the players had developed inflammation around the heart following their infections, but the Gabonese Football Federation released a statement to say the pair would return to their clubs “to undergo further examinations”.

“There is no major cause for alarm regarding cardiac problems but we are not in a position here to properly analyse what damage could be done by the residue that caused the inflammation,” Neveu said.

“We can’t take any risks, and psychologically it was becoming unbearable for them staying in their rooms. So on Sunday we spoke and decided to let them go home.”

Gabon play Morocco in their last group game on Tuesday, when a draw will secure their path to the knockout phase.

However, they have also lost forward Denis Bouanga for that game after he also tested positive for the coronavirus.

The 32-year-old Aubameyang has not played for Arsenal since December 6 and was stripped of the captaincy shortly after that by manager Mikel Arteta having reportedly returned late from a club-authorised trip to visit his ill mother.

The Djurtus are without a win after three appearances at the continental championship but need a win against the three-time Afcon winners to make it to the next round

Guinea-Bissau star Judilson Mamadu Tuncará Gomes ‘Pelé’ has revealed the desire of the Wild Dogs to qualify for the knockout stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by beating Nigeria on Wednesday.

The Super Eagles and the Djurtus (Wild Dogs) will meet at the Stade Omnisports Rounde Adjia on January 19 in the final Group D match of the ongoing Afcon.

Nigeria are already through to the Round of 16 after claiming convincing wins over Egypt’s Pharaohs on matchday one and Sudan’s Falcons on Saturday.

Presently with just a point earned in their opening day draw against Sudan, Guinea-Bissau need an outright victory over their West African neighbours.

But that is a tall order against a Super Eagles that are three-time winners of the tournament and have lost just two of their last 16 games at the Afcon, winning 12.

Nothing is impossible in football, though, especially with the Eagles likely to rotate and give game time to players who have not featured much in Cameroon.

Buoyed by their spirited but ultimately fruitless effort against Egypt (they lost 1-0), Guinea-Bissau are targeting a victory over their more illustrious foes.

And Monaco star Pele has vowed that they will give everything to earn their first ever win at the Afcon.

“It is our ambition to qualify and we are not giving up on that, we must do everything to defeat Nigeria because it is very important for us,” Pele said.

“We will fight with everything we have and if we played as we did against Egypt, we will qualify. We want everyone at home proud of us.”

Guinea-Bissau have three draws and five defeats in their eight matches across their three appearances at the Afcon.

Nigeria had claimed their three continental triumphs before the Wild Dogs made their debut at the Nations Cup in 2017.

The Super Eagles have qualified for the knockout rounds, but any mistake could get the three-time Champions knocked out

Super Eagles interim boss Augustine Eguavoen has called on support from fans ahead of the knockout stages at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria qualified for the round of 16 after their comprehensive 3-1 victory over Sudan on Saturday.

The Super Eagles sent a message to the rest of their rivals in their first game against Egypt. The three-time African champions outclassed the Pharaohs to secure a 1-0 win.

Nigeria face Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday, but it is an inconsequential fixture, as they are already sure of a first-place finish in the group.

This is the second time that the AFCON has 24 teams, and as such there the knockout stages will begin with a round of sixteen playoffs.

And ahead of the knockout games, Eguavoen has called on the fans to show their support. The former Gent defender took to his official Twitter account to seek the fans support.

Nigeria will play their round of 16 fixture on the 23rd of January, and they could face the third-best team in either group Group B, E or F.

Burkina Faso have qualified to the knockout phase of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations despite the 1-1 draw against Ethiopia in the final Group A match played at the Stade Omnisports de Bafoussam on Monday.

The Stallions were looking for a win that would see them qualify automatically having collected 3 points in the recent victory over Cape Verde. 

A draw was still good enough for as they were guaranteed to finish second depending on the results from the other game involving Cape Verde and Cameroon.

The Ibex had the first real opening of the match. Getaneh Kebede saw his attempt from inside the box is saved from Abubeker Nasir’s square pass on the left flank. 

Dawa Dukele had another chance for Ethiopia but his shot from outside the box was dealt with by Burkina Faso Keeper Soufiane Ouedraogo.

However, it was Burkina Faso who took the lead with Cyrille Bayala finding the back of the net after being out through on goal by Adama Guira. The Ajaccio Midfielder gave goalkeeper Balcha no chance with a well taken left footed shot and register his first goal of the tournament.

Burkina Faso went into the break with a goal to the good.

A huge team talk by Ethiopian Coach Abate Wubetu during the interval seemed to have worked as the Ibex came charging in the second half.

The pressure earned them a penalty after defender Steeve Yago handled in the box. Skipper of the side Getaneh Kebede slotted home the penalty to put Ethiopia back on level terms.

With that goal, Burkina Faso coach Kamou Malo was keeping keen eye on the other Group A match between Cameroon and Cape Verde.

Both sides had chances to score the winner late on in the game. but none could find the breakthrough.

The Stallions of Burkina Faso managed to go through as runners up in Group A on head to head rule ahead of Cape Verde whom they beat, with both teams having 4 points.

What they said

Amanuel Yohanes Gamo (Man of the Match)

“I am happy to get the man of the match award, but I am disappointed we did not qualify as a team to make our country proud. I wish the remaining teams all success, as we go home and hope to try again later.”

Wubetu Abate (Coach, Ethiopia)

“We had a draw, but we still feel disappointed we are going home. We have good young players, but we lacked experience. Our players are all local and we hope we have learnt a lot, considering the pedigree of our opponents. We need more experience and capacity of our players getting knowledge in other leagues. However, we go home proud that it was a very good learning curve for us.”

Kamou Malo (Coach, Burkina Faso)

“We are happy to qualify, but we have to change a lot because we missed many chances today. We have to draw our lessons from the group stage, and to look at our tactics as I know it will be different in our next matches. It was not an easy group, but I am glad we surmounted the challenges and now we can plan once again. We are ready to play any opponents in the next round.”