It sounds incredible but this is what the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia has to contend with when they file out against the Super Eagles of Nigeria at exactly eight o’clock Sunday evening in Garoua.
Ahead of the round of 16 several Tunisian players and Mondher Kebaier, the head coach, have tested positive to COVID-19.
Kebaier was absent during the pre-match press conference on Saturday at the media centre of the Roumdje Adjia Stadium, Garoua as Jalal Al-Qadri, Tunisia’s assistant coach, addressed journalists during the press conference.
He said Wahbi Khazri, captain of the Carthage Eagles, and eleven others have contracted COVID-19 and will not be available for the game.
The other eleven players are Aissa Laidouni, Dylan Bronn, Ghaylène Chaalali, Ellyes Skhiri, Anis Ben Slimane, Mohamed Romdhane, Ali Maâloul, Ben Hmida, Aymen Dahmen Yoann Touzgha and Issam Jebali.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha is suspended from the game.
Tunisia qualified for the round of 16 after finishing as one of the four best losers in the group stage.They won their first game 4-0 against Mauritania and lost their remaining two matches.
The Carthage Eagles last met the Nigerian side during the third-place game at the 2019 AFCON in Cairo, Egypt.
