An outbreak of COVID-19 has been detected in Tunisia’s camp at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the country could be without as many as seven players against Gambia on Thursday, the Tunisian Football Federation said on Wednesday.
Tunisia, who have three points from their opening two games, would do well to get at least one more point to qualify, if not among the top two in Group F, then as one of the four best third-place finishers.
A number of players who have subsequently tested positive include Wahbi Khazri, who scored twice in the 4-0 win against Mauritania on Sunday.
Ali Maaloul and Gailane Chaalali, who also impressed on Sunday, are also set to miss out along with replacements Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Aymen Dahmen and Ali Jemal.
Nevertheless, Tunisia received a boost when Dylan Bronn, Mohamed Drager, and Naim Sliti all returned negative tests and were released from isolation, a spokesman said.
