Que Ngoc Hai risks missing the match against China due to Covid-19.
After testing positive for nCoV in a rapid test, center-back Que Ngoc Hai faces the possibility of missing the match against China in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers on February 1st.
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| Ngoc Hai contests the ball during the first leg of the 2020 AFF Cup semi-final against Thailand in December 2021. Photo: Leo Shengwei. |
*Vietnam vs. China: 7 PM, Tuesday, February 1st, Hanoi time.
After returning to Hanoi on the evening of January 28th, the entire team underwent rapid testing, including:Que Ngoc HaiAlthough he was suspended and therefore did not travel to Australia with the team, it is highly likely that the 29-year-old central defender contracted the infection from Lieu Quang Vinh, who tested positive a few days earlier.
This morning, the team will have RT-PCR tests. If the results are positive, Que Ngoc Hai will have to be isolated and treated, meaning he will be unable to participate in the match against China on the evening of February 1st at My Dinh Stadium.
Even the former Vietnam captain couldn't celebrate Lunar New Year with his family, because according to regulations, his quarantine period wouldn't end until at least February 8th. With the V-League 2022 starting at the end of February, his pre-season preparations with SLNA were also affected.
Que Ngoc Hai's absence significantly impacted coach Park Hang-seo's plans. Except for the match against Australia, the central defender from Nghe An was one of only two players to have played the full 90 minutes in the previous six matches of the third qualifying round.
Vietnam has yet to earn a point after seven matches and is at the bottom of Group B. China, meanwhile, is second to last with five points, with virtually no chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
In the first leg, played on a neutral ground in the UAE, Chinawin 3-2Thanks to Wu Lei's injury-time goal.
