Tottenham star Yves Bissouma has been playing with MALARIA at Afcon after falling ill, confirms coach
YVES BISSOUMA has been playing at the Africa Cup of Nations despite suffering from MALARIA.
The Tottenham star suffered heartbreak in the quarter-finals as host nation Ivory Coast knocked out Mali.
Mali were beaten despite leading going into the closing stages of the match.
Brighton and Hove Albion star Simon Adingra equalised for Ivory Coast in the 90th minute to force extra-time.
The match looked set to be decided on penalties until Oumar Diakité fired the winner in the 122nd minute.
Ivory Coast's achievement was even more remarkable as they were reduced to ten men in the 43rd minute as Odilon Kossounou was sent off for two bookable offences.
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After the winning goal both teams had players see red as Diakité followed his goal with wild celebrations that saw him given his marching orders.
Mali's Hamari Traoré was also sent off for his complaints to the referee.
Mali head coach Eric Chelle confirmed that Bissouma as well as Moussa Diarra had been playing in the tournament with malaria.
The coach insisted that Bissouma's case was "not so serious" due to him being born in West Africa.
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This meant that the midfielder was able to play, but Diarra's case was different.
Chelle said: "You know Yves and Moussa were suffering from malaria, regarding the blood tests.
"It’s not so serious, because someone born in West Africa is used to malaria, he could play but for Moussa it was different.
"It was the first time he contracted malaria, so he started some light training.
"We’ll take things carefully, but there’s no outbreak or anything."
Ivory Coast will face DR Congo in the semi-final.
DR Congo reached the final four after a brilliant win against Guinea.
During the game, former West Ham star Arthur Masuaku scored a stunning replica goal from his time in the Premier League.
South Africa have also reached the semis after beating Cape Verde on penalties in which Manchester United flop Bebe missed from the spot and will face Nigeria.