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Democratic Republic of Congo have cancelled a pre-World Cup training camp due to an Ebola virus outbreak, weeks before they are due to travel to the United States.
The camp had been due to take place in their capital city Kinshasa, with plans for an open training session and a send off event including the country’s president Felix Tshisekedi.
Plans have been scrapped after an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country, with 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths in DR Congo having been reported.
The World Health Organisation stated that the outbreak is a ‘public health emergency of international concern’, but does not meet the criteria of a pandemic.
DR Congo scrapped their training camp as a result, with their national team set to meet up in Belgium to continue preparations for the World Cup.
‘Originally scheduled to take place in the capital on May 26, the Leopards’ public training session will not be held after all,’ a team statement read.
DR Congo have been forced to cancel a pre-World Cup training camp in their capital city
DR Congo are set to play at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974
‘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 being imposed by the United States, who have banned entry from non-Americans who have been in the DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days, in response to the Ebola outbreak.
All of the DR Congo squad are based outside the country, which will enable them to travel to the US.
Members of team staff reportedly left the country on Wednesday in order to comply with the 21-day deadline.
Concerns, however, have been raised over fans and journalists from DR Congo who had been planning to attend the World Cup.
The training camp was cancelled due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the country
DR Congo, who are preparing for their first World Cup since 1974, will hold their rescheduled camp in Brussels next week.
Sebastien Desabre’s side will face Denmark in a friendly on June 3 in Belgium, before taking on 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 by taking on Portugal on June 17, before matches against Colombia and Uzbekistan.
