Covid-19 hits Zimbabwe's national football team camp
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have asked the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to postpone and possibly relocate the Confederation Cup first round second leg involving Nigerian club Rivers United and Bloemfontein Celtic of South Africa.
What you need to know:
- The southern African country has been recording a surge in Covid-19 cases in the past two months following a lull mid year.
- As of December 28, Zimbabwe had 13,148 Covid-19 cases with 354 deaths and 10,705 recoveries.
Zimbabwe's preparations for the upcoming 2021 African Nations Championship (Chan) football tournament in Cameroon are in limbo after nine players tested positive for Covid-19.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) on Tuesday said nine members of the 23-man squad announced this week tested positive when they returned to camp after a Christmas break.
"In adherence to our Covid-19 medical protocols, all players and members of the technical team were tested on 28 December upon their return from the festive break and the nine were found positive," Zifa said in a statement.
"The players have been advised to inform their families and contacts."
Zifa said it had suspended training for the whole team.
The latest development is a blow to Zimbabwe’s preparations for the tournament that begins in Cameroon on January 16.
Zimbabwe has already cancelled proposed preparatory matches with Kenya and Congo due to Covid-19 related travel complications.
"The coronavirus pandemic has made travelling hectic," said Wellington Mupandare, the national team manager.
"There was also Rwanda, who came up with a proposal, but this too was not feasible because of the travel difficulties in travelling and huge financial costs that were required."
Coaches have been complaining that Zimbabwe's players lack match fitness because they have been inactive since the Covid-19 outbreak began in March.
Chan is exclusively for locally based players.
Zimbabwe were placed in Group A alongside hosts Cameron, Burkina Faso and Mali in the group stage of the Chan tournament.
The Warriors will feature in the opening match against the hosts on January 16.
Zimbabwe are scheduled to leave for Cameroon on January 11.
The southern African country has been recording a surge in Covid-19 cases in the past two months following a lull mid year.
As of December 28, Zimbabwe had 13,148 Covid-19 cases with 354 deaths and 10,705 recoveries.
