Tottenham star playing at AFCON with Malaria as coach confirms diagnosis

Tottenham's Yves Bissouma played with Malaria at AFCON, his manager confirms. Mali's controversial exit saw players attacking the referee.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma has been a standout player at the AFCON tournament, despite the fact that he tested positive for Malaria. His manager confirmed that Bissouma played in several matches for Mali, including their group stage games against South Africa and Namibia, as well as their round of 16 win against Burkina Faso. However, he was only able to complete 90 minutes once and was an unused substitute in their quarter-final match against Ivory Coast.

It has been revealed that Bissouma and Toulouse defender Moussa Diarra were both suffering from Malaria during the tournament. Mali's head coach Eric Chelle explained that while Bissouma was able to play through the illness, it was a different story for Diarra, who was experiencing Malaria for the first time. Despite this, Chelle assured that there was no outbreak and that they would be taking things carefully.

Following Mali's elimination from the tournament, Bissouma is set to return to Tottenham. Their exit came in a controversial match against Ivory Coast, with Brighton & Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra scoring a last-minute equalizer, and Oumar Diakite securing a 120+2 minute winner for the hosts. The match ended in chaos, with Mali players protesting and surrounding the referee, leading to multiple red cards being issued.

Looking ahead, Ivory Coast will face DR Congo in the semi-final, while Nigeria will play South Africa in the other last-four game. The tournament has been full of drama and surprises, and it remains to be seen who will come out on top. Who do you think will win AFCON? Let us know in the comments section.