AFCON 2022: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Arsenal after being one of the 3 Gabon players with heart issues after contracting COVID-19

The announcement was made prior to their meeting with Ghana on Friday night, which the trio have been ruled out of. The Gabon FA’s statement confirmed that they are unavailable after recently recovering from coronavirus, which examinations revealed left them with lasting cardiac lesions.

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Selon la commission médicale de la CAF, les joueurs Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Axel Meyé et Mario Lemina à peine sortis du Covid ne peuvent pas prendre part à ce match.
Les examens présenteraient des lésions cardiaques.
la CAF n’a pas voulu prendre de risques. pic.twitter.com/cebUnMLSVX

— Fédération Gabonaise de Football – FEGAFOOT (@fegafoot_gabon) January 14, 2022

AFCON 2022: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Arsenal

Bayern Munich made a similar discovery this week with defender Alphonso Davies, who has been ruled out for the foreseeable future after myocarditis was detected following his positive COVID-19 test. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang misses Gabon’s AFCON clash with Ghana after medical staff noticed ‘cardiac lesions’ after the Arsenal striker finished his coronavirus recovery

The Arsenal forward missed his country’s win over Comoros on Monday after testing positive for Covid-19 – and while he returned to training earlier this week, medical staff noticed that he and two players had minor heart issues after their recoveries.

AFCON 2022: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Arsenal after being one of the 3 Gabon players with heart issues after contracting COVID-19

The Gabon FA revealed in a statement that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ‘did not want to take risks’ with Aubameyang’s fitness, with his team-mates Mario Lemina and Axel Meye also missing the Ghana match for the same reason.

A Gabon FA statement read: “Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Axel Meyé and Mario Lemina are barely out of Covid (isolation) and cannot take part in this match. The (medical) examinations showed cardiac lesions. The CAF did not want to take any risks.”

AFCON 2022: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Arsenal after being one of the 3 Gabon players with heart issues after contracting COVID-19