January 15, (THEWILL) – After scans indicated a heart problem, Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was left out of Gabon’s squad to face Ghana at the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Friday.
Prior to the start of the tournament, Aubameyang had tested positive for COVID-19 as THEWILL reported. He therefore had to pass standard tests before returning to action.
Nice midfielder Mario Lemina and Tanger attacker Axel Meye both recently returned positive tests and were subjected to comparable testing by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the trio were sidelined because the results determined that returning to active football would be dangerous.
The statement of the Gabon Football Federation made it clear: “According to the CAF medical commission, the players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Axel Meyé and Mario Lemina barely out of the COVID cannot take part in this match. The examinations would show heart problems. CAF did not want to take any risks.”
Gabon began their AFCON campaign with a 1-0 victory over Comoros on Monday, with Aaron Salem Boupendza scoring the game’s only goal. However, in the Matchday two tie currently underway, they trail Ghana by one goal in the first half.
THEWILL recalls that Aubameyang last appeared in a competitive match in Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Everton at the start of December, when he came off the bench for a five-minute cameo.
Due to a disciplinary transgression, Mikel Arteta stripped the Gabon striker of his captaincy and demoted him from the first-team squad.
Alexandre Lacazette, Aubameyang’s old striking partner, has captained Arsenal since the omission of the Gabonese captain from the squad and has re-emerged as a fan favourite with talks of an Aubameyang exit swirling around the club.
Hopefully, this heart problem does not linger long enough to interfere with his career, whether at the Emirates or elsewhere, whenever the Gabon team leaves Cameroon.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
