returns to Arsenal after being diagnosed with ‘cardiac lesions’
Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has quit the Africa Cup of Nations to make a return back to Arsenal due to his ongoing health issues.
The Arsenal striker didn't feature for Gabon in Cameroon, after catching Covid in the build-up to the tournament. He missed Gabon's clashes with Comoros and
Ghana. Reports from the nation's medical staff suggested he was suffering with 'heart lesions' as a result of his Covid diagnosis.
Panthers coach Patrice Neveu in a statement confirmed that the striker is returning back to his club in the UK in order for his ongoing health problems to be properly assessed.
“Since yesterday, the decision was taken to send them home to their club,” Neveu told GOAL, referring to Aubameyang and team-mate Mario Lemina. “We can’t judge it here [in Cameroon], we can’t assess the pathology of Covid here.
“It’s important that Mario returns to Nice and Pierre returns to Arsenal,” he added. “It’s a decision that we’ve taken among ourselves.”
The Gabon Football Federation subsequently confirmed in a statement that the players are being released from international duty.
“The Gabonese Football Federation has decided to put the players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina back at the disposition of their clubs in order for them to follow more in-depth exams,” read a brief communique.
The 32-year-old was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy before heading to Cameroon, after a series of disciplinary issues.
He was later pictured on a night out in Dubai with former Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina ahead of the tournament. Both players went on to catch Covid.
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