Gabon has released Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to Arsenal for further medical examinations after he was diagnosed with heart lesions.

The 32-year-old did not feature in the Panthers' first two games. He missed the first after testing positive for COVID-19 and the second as a precaution for suspected "cardiac lesions".

Gabon's coach Patrice Neveu confirmed Aubameyang's development, adding that Mario Lemina, who also tested positive for COVID-19 upon landing in Cameroon, was also released to Nice.

"Since yesterday, the decision was taken to send them home to their club," Goal.com quotes Neveu, referring to Aubameyang and Lemina. "We can't judge it here [in Cameroon], we can't assess the pathology of Covid here.

"It's important that Mario returns to Nice and Pierre returns to Arsenal," he added. "It's a decision that we've taken among ourselves."

Gabon currently sits in second place in Group C with 4 points, two behind group leaders Morocco.

The Panthers are scheduled to play their last group stage match on Tuesday against the North Africans, aiming to qualify for the last 16 stage of the competition.