AFCON 2021: Aubameyang Sent Home After Covid-Related Heart Problem

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will play no role in Gabon's 2021 AFCON campaign in Cameroon
• The Arsenal star is set to jet back to his club over medical grounds following a recent Covid infection
• Aubamenyang was yet to feature for the Panthers since the continental showpiece kicked off earlier in the month

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to fly back to Arsenal from the Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a heart problem stemming from Covid-related complications.

The Arsenal forward was among those named in Gabon's squad to represent the west African country in the ongoing AFCON tournament in Cameroon.

However, the 32-year-old was yet to feature for The Panthers, missing two of the team's opening fixtures against Comoros and Ghana.

Auba was unable to pull on a Gabon shirt after he tested positive for Covid upon his arrival in Cameroon, missing Gabon's Group C opener against Comoros.

He was then ruled out for the second group fixture against Ghana which ended in a 1-1 draw due to suspected heart lesions following his bout of Covid.

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The Gabonese Football Federation has now disclosed the 32-year-old is being allowed to return to Arsenal early on medical grounds.

His teammate Mario Lemina who turns out for Nice is also set to undergo further assessments at his club, with Gabon head coach Patrice Neveu suggesting they were unable to manage their conditions in Cameroon.

"Since yesterday, the decision was taken to send them home to their club. We can’t judge it here [in Cameroon], we can’t assess the pathology of Covid here," Neveu told Goal.

"It’s important that Mario returns to Nice and Pierre returns to Arsenal. It’s a decision that we’ve taken among ourselves," he added.

Gabon will now be hoping to cope for the rest of their AFCON campaign without both Aubamenyang and Lemina.