The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have cancelled their three-day World Cup preparation training camp and a planned farewell to fans in Kinshasa because of an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, 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.
The DRC team are scheduled to play warm-up games against Denmark in Liège, Belgium on 3 June and Chile in southern Spain on 9 June. Both matches are going ahead as planned, according to team spokesman Jerry Kalemo. The DRC will face Portugal in their opening World Cup match in Houston on 17 June. “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 11 June in Houston. Only one stage was cancelled – the one in Kinshasa,” Kalemo said.
All the DRC’s players and their French coach, Sébastien Desabre, are based outside the country, with most playing in France. Some team staff based in the DRC “are leaving in the next hours”, Kalemo added. Fifa said it is “aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the DRC football association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a ban on entry for foreign nationals who had been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within the past three weeks, lasting 30 days. However, a US official said the DRC’s football team would not be affected because they have been training in Europe for weeks. Team members who have not visited the DRC in the past 21 days are exempt, while those who did return during that period will face quarantine requirements similar to US citizens. The exception does not apply to fans.
The DRC qualified for the World Cup by beating Jamaica and have been drawn in Group K. After Portugal, they face Colombia on 23 June and Uzbekistan on 27 June. This is their first World Cup finals since 1974, when they were known as Zaïre. The squad includes Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa, Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki and West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Hibernian’s Rocky Bushiri withdrew with an achilles injury and was replaced by Kilmarnock’s Aaron Tshibola.
Véron Mosengo-Omba, former general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), has been elected president of the DRC’s football federation, Fecofa. He received 60 of 65 votes, unopposed. Mosengo-Omba, a university friend of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, has faced allegations of bullying and intimidation from Caf’s audit and compliance committee, which he denies.
