Farense defender Edward Sarpong has sent out a pleading message to Ghanaians to take the deadly coronavirus serious.

Sarpong featured for the Black Meteors in the U23 Africa Cup of Nations where the nation placed fourth after losing to South Africa on penalties for the third placed spot.

The 23 year old is currently self isolating in Portugal and has called on Ghanaians to take the virus seriously.

"This is the time that Ghanaians have to put jokes aside and we should be serious about the sickness because it is too much. It has killed a lot of people in Portugal. At this point we have to pray to God and take things serious so that the sickness will come to an end," he told Sunyani based radio Station Ark FM.

He added: "They have to stay at home so that it does not spread and they should make sure that they wash their hands with sanitizers."