Chelsea Edouard Mendy tests positive for Covid-19 & will miss Senegal’s AFCON opener

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy may miss Senegal’s opening Africa Cup of Nations match against Zimbabwe after testing positive for Covid-19.

Mendy, captain Kalidou Koulibaly and forward Famara Diedhiou returned positive results Saturday during required tests 48 hours ahead of their tournament opener, the Senegalese Football Federation said.

Unless more tests come back negative, the trio will be unavailable for Senegal’s first game in Bafoussam.

Senegal, Africa’s top-ranked squad, postponed their departure for the competition from Tuesday to Wednesday this week following the positive test results of three players and six staff members.

The squad departed without three players who had been quarantined.

Arsenal and Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was forced to isolate at the team hotel on Thursday following a positive test, while Burkina Faso may be without up to five players when they face hosts Cameroon later on Sunday.

CAF has stated that teams must compete if they have at least 11 available players. If a team does not have a designated goalie, an outfield player will play goal.