Italian newspaper La Nazione first reported that a 22-year-old footballer had been diagnosed with the coronavirus, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, The Cable has now revealed that the player who was diagnosed with the disease is a Nigerian National, King Paul Akpan Udoh, who plays for Pianese ASD in Italy Serie C.

According to reports, the footballer ‘put himself in voluntary quarantine’ before doctors decided to test him for the virus and the result came out as positive for COVID-19.

As such, he becomes the first professional footballer to be diagnosed with the deadly illness that has infected over 80,000 people worldwide.

Recall that Nigeria recorded its first coronavirus case yesterday after an Italian national who works in Nigeria returned from Milan tested positive.

Akpan Udoh reportedly ‘had a fever and felt unwell’ before Pianese’s 1-0 loss to Juventus U-23 in a Serie C. Because of the slight illness, he didn’t feature in the match which held on Sunday 23rd February.

Therefore, he maintained a self-imposed quarantine before he tested positive. For now, the player’s status is ‘good’ according to La Nazione.

Currently, Coronavirus has infected 82,455 worldwide and have led to 2,811 deaths, mostly in China.

Read our post on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the deadly coronavirus.