King Paul Akpan Udoh, Italian-Nigerian player, has become the first footballer to be infected with coronavirus. The footballer of Nigerian descent currently plays for Pianese, an Italian Serie C side. The striker was diagnosed of the disease on February 27, and he has been quarantined. The 22-year-old started his career with Reggiana before moving to Juventus in 2011 where he was loaned back for a year.

The Covid -19 started in Wuhan in China in 2019. So far, almost 100,000 people have been infected with over 2000 deaths world wide.

The virus has quickly spread the world over with outbreaks in Italy and Iran.

Italy is the country in Europe with the highest number of reported cases. Some Italian Serie A matches were postponed last weekend as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus.

Nigeria reported its first case on Friday, February 28, the patient was an Italian who just returned from Milan. (Agency report)