Coach makes alarming pronouncement as afcon-bound Gambia fly out Friday

Scorpions in Doha, Qatar. PC: Gambia Football Federation

The Gambia are facing a catastrophe at their first African Cup of Nations according to the Belgian coach of the scorpions Tom Saintfiet.

He issued the warning in the Qatari capital, Doha, where the team travelled for a training camp.  The coach posted on social media that he had been refused permission to replace players who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Saintfiet did not specify how many of his squad were affected but said the African football confederation had turned down the Gambia's request to replace several players.  

Squads were expanded for the tournament from the usual 23 to 28 to cover potential problems with coronavirus. The Gambia has had to cancel both warm up matches against Algeria and Syria in Qatar due to the unavailability of 16 of the teams 28 players, not all of these were caused by coronavirus as Saintfiet also cited illnesses, injuries and travel restrictions.  

The scorpions returned to home soil on Thursday for a brief farewell before heading to Cameroon on Friday to take on Mauritania in their opening group match on January 12th. They also face Mali and Tunisia in the same group.

Source: Coffee Time with Peter Gomez