Accra Hearts of Oak, Ghana's only CAF Champions League participant, has stated that several of its players and staff have acquired the coronavirus before their crucial match against CI Kamsar of Guinea.
According to the club, the players and officials who tested positive for the virus will be barred from participating in team activities for the next fourteen (14) days.
The club's official statement reads "The management of Accra Hearts of Oak is hereby notifying the club’s fan base and the general public that having carried out mandatory testing of it's players and officials for COVID-19, a few of the members tested positive for the virus."
"Those affected are currently in isolation, though they are all asymptomatic and in good spirit. We want to assure our supporters that this development will not hamper our preparation for the CAF Champions League."
"All the players and officials will be retested and even more stringent measures put in place to ensure no further spread of the virus."
"We will once again take this opportunity to encourage everybody to observe the associated protocols at all times, as we continue to adjust to life with this deadly virus."
This week, Hearts of Oak began preparations for their CAF Champions League preliminary round match against CI Kamsar.
CI Kamsar will host the first leg of the tie in Conakry on September 10-12, 2021, followed by the second leg in Accra on September 17-19, 2021.
Six days ago the players and officials took the single dose vaccine at the Mamprobi Poly Clinic in preparation for their crucial game against the Guinean club.
After a six-year long absence from CAF Inter-club tournaments, Hearts of Oak, who won the domestic double, will return to the continental scene.