Congo's soccer team has canceled a three-day World Cup preparation training camp and a planned farewell to fans in the capital Kinshasa because of an outbreak of Ebola in the east of the country.
Ebola Outbreak Details
Preparations will now take place elsewhere after an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, which has killed more than 130 people and caused nearly 600 suspected cases. The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern.
Warmup Matches Still Scheduled
Congo is scheduled to play World Cup warmup games against Denmark in Liege, Belgium on June 3 and Chile in southern Spain on June 9. Both matches are proceeding as planned, team spokesman Jerry Kalemo told The Associated Press.
"There were three stages of preparation: in Kinshasa to say goodbye to the public, Belgium and Spain with two friendly matches, and the third stage from June 11 in Houston," Kalemo said. "Only one stage was canceled – the one in Kinshasa."
Team and Coaching Staff
All of the Congo players and the team's French coach, Sébastien Desabre, are based outside of the central African country, with most playing in France. Some team staff based in Congo "are leaving in the next hours," Kalemo said.
FIFA issued a statement saying it is "aware of and monitoring the situation" and is in close communication with the Congo DR Football Association.
U.S. Travel Restrictions
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that the U.S. would ban entry of all foreign nationals who had been in Congo, Uganda and South Sudan within the past three weeks. The ban lasts for 30 days.
A U.S. official said the Congolese World Cup squad would not be affected by the entry ban because it has been training in Europe for the past several weeks. However, any delegation members who returned to Congo during the 21-day period will face quarantine requirements. This exception does not apply to Congolese fans wishing to attend the World Cup.
World Cup Group Stage
Congo, which qualified for the World Cup after winning a playoff tournament in Mexico, has been drawn in Group K. The team faces:
- Portugal in Houston on June 17
- Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23
- Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27
Congo's first World Cup qualification since 1974 – when it was called Zaire – sparked scenes of jubilation across the nation, which has been battered by decades of conflict.