The Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled a pre-World Cup training camp due to an outbreak of the Ebola virus, just weeks before the team is scheduled to travel to the United States. The camp was originally set to take place in the capital city of Kinshasa, with plans for an open training session and a send-off event involving the country's president, Felix Tshisekedi.
These plans have been scrapped following an Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the country, where 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths have been reported. The World Health Organisation has declared the outbreak a 'public health emergency of international concern', though it does not meet the criteria for a pandemic.
As a result, the DR Congo national team will now gather in Belgium to continue their World Cup preparations. A team statement read: 'Originally scheduled to take place in the capital on May 26, the Leopards' public training session will not be held after all. This decision follows reports of suspected Ebola cases in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.'
FIFA added in a statement: 'FIFA is aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the Congo DR Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.'
The cancellation followed travel restrictions imposed by the United States, which has banned entry for non-Americans who have been in DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, in response to the Ebola outbreak. All of the DR Congo squad are based outside the country, which will allow them to travel to the US. Some team staff reportedly left the country on Wednesday to comply with the 21-day deadline.
However, concerns have been raised about fans and journalists from DR Congo who had planned to attend the World Cup. DR Congo, preparing for their first World Cup since 1974, will hold their rescheduled camp in Brussels next week. Sebastien Desabre's side will play a friendly against Denmark on June 3 in Belgium, followed by a match against Chile on June 9 in Spain.
DR Congo will then travel to the United States, where they will be based in Houston for the tournament. The African nation will begin their World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 17, before facing Colombia and Uzbekistan.
