BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN-ROSE
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup have been disrupted after players were ordered to isolate in Belgium for 21 days before travelling to the United States due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
The squad had originally planned to hold a pre-tournament training camp in Kinshasa, but the camp was cancelled following new health restrictions linked to the outbreak in Central Africa.
US authorities confirmed that anyone who has recently been in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan could face entry restrictions, prompting Congolese officials to move preparations to Europe.
Speaking to ESPN, White House Task Force executive director Andrew Giuliani warned the team must remain inside a strict “bio-secure bubble” in Belgium to avoid jeopardising their participation at the tournament.
“All precautions must be respected, otherwise the team risks losing clearance to enter the United States,” Giuliani said.
The World Health Organization recently raised the Ebola threat level in DR Congo to “very high” nationally, although the organisation maintained that the global risk remains low.
Most of DR Congo’s players are based abroad and are not believed to have been directly exposed to affected regions. The Leopards are expected to continue preparations with friendlies against Denmark and Chile before beginning their World Cup campaign.
DR Congo have been drawn in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, with their opening match scheduled for 17 June.
