CAN 2022-Gabon: deprived of football, Aubameyang and Lemina accuse the blow
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during CAN 2017 (archives).
AFP - GABRIEL BOUYS
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
3 mins
Absent from the match won against the Comoros because positive for Covid-19, the Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina also missed the second, played on Friday January 14 during this CAN 2022. Although negative, they retain "
traces
" of the Covid .
On Saturday, coach Patrice Neveu spoke of the impact of this situation on their minds.
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From our special correspondent in Yaoundé,
With 4 points on the clock after the first two days of
CAN 2022
, Gabon is in second place in Group C behind Morocco (6 points) and ahead of Ghana (1 point) and the Comoros (0 point).
The qualification of the Panthers is not yet acquired from an arithmetic point of view, but unless surprised, they should see the round of 16 at the end of the first round.
Saturday, January 15, in training, the day after the
boiling draw torn against Ghana (1-1)
, Patrice Neveu expressed his satisfaction while calling for "
not to fall asleep
" before challenging the Moroccans on Tuesday January 18.
► Schedule, match results and team standings
No risk will be taken for Aubameyang and Lemina
The Gabon coach also gave news of
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina
.
Both players missed the game against the Black Stars;
they were positive for
Covid-19
a few days ago and an MRI (magnetic resonance image) showed that the disease still left "
traces
".
Reports that Aubameyang and Lemina are suffering from heart problems have been denied.
Patrice Neveu hoped the striker and midfielder could pass another exam today. But "
unfortunately we have to wait until Monday for them to pass one again in order to find out if they can be operational for the match against Morocco
", he regrets. The technician continues: “
It does not suit us. (…) During this time, they do not train. It's a little complicated.
»
The French coach does not exclude that the Arsenal striker and the Nice midfielder are aligned against Morocco "
if the result is good
".
But out of the question to put their health in danger: “
They must be in full possession of their means, and above all that there is no risk at the medical level.
»
► CAN 2022: fair play, an almost illusory ideal in modern football
"Psychologically, it's really difficult"
The unavailability of the captain "PEA" handicaps Gabon. Before discussing his state of health and that of Mario Lemina, Patrice Neveu conceded that his team is having "
difficulties
" in their attacks: "
We cannot fully exploit our offensive potential and our creativity in the final phase of our actions. We lack speed and spontaneity to finish, it is obvious. If we want to last in the competition, it is absolutely necessary to raise the cursor in this area.
»
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may be one of those who will fix these shortcomings.
In the meantime, he and Lemina are chomping at the bit.
“
Yesterday (Friday January 14), after the bad news, they said to themselves that it was getting so complicated that what was the point of staying.
After trading, the guys took it upon themselves.
But psychologically, it's really difficult
”, confides Patrice Neveu, who “
hopes for good news on Monday” and that “everything will be back to normal
”.
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