Four members of Ethiopia’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations delegation have tested positive for coronavirus after the Walya became the first team to arrive in Cameroon ahead of the kick-off of the competition.
The Ethiopians were followed by Sudan with both countries having scheduled a friendly game for Thursday.
However, according to Sportsglitz, a Cameroonian publication, the test results were released on Tuesday, the Ethiopians’ second day in Cameroon and it is now unclear whether the friendly match will still take place.
The four people who tested positive were promptly isolated, with the medical team continuing to check the rest of the Ethiopian group.
For the time being, the identities of the four people have not been made public in order to maintain confidentiality.
Cameroon, meanwhile, stepped up preparations for the AFCON, with the government purchasing 24 new buses to carry all of the participating teams.
There were a total of 24 70-seater buses, all painted in the colors of the participating teams, as well as roughly 35-seater buses and 18-seater buses that arrived in Douala last weekend.
The vehicles, which arrived last Thursday at Douala Airport, will be used to carry various delegations to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Massena, was on hand to receive the buses. It translates Cameroon’s desire to ensure that the teams are transported in the best possible conditions and that the event is a success, according to Ngalle Bibehe.
“The Ministry of Transport is in charge of logistics and transportation during this event, and we want to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the tournament’s success,” stated the Minister of Transport.
As delegations and officials begin to arrive in the country, the buses will be placed at their disposal.
The 2021 AFCON will kick-off on January 9 with six venues across five cities hosting the matches. The tournament’s opening match and final will be held at Yaoundé’s newly constructed 60,000-seater Olembe Stadium.
