In a latest update, DR Congo has halted all planned training programs for the World Cup due to the deadly spread of Ebola.
The decision came after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ‘Ebola outbreak’ a public health emergency of international concern.
Given the uncertainty and intensity of the case, the Democratic Republic of Congo, also known as DR Congo, has canceled its pre-World Cup training camp in the capital Kinshasa due to an Ebola outbreak in the country to take precautionary measures.
Preparations for the World Cup training have been moved to Belgium due to the upsurge, which is believed to have killed more than 130 people.
DR Congo will play friendly matches against Denmark on June 3 in Belgium and Chile on June 9 in Spain ahead of the World Cup final.
They will play their first match of the tournament in the American city of Houston on June 17 against Portugal.
“Originally scheduled to take place in the capital on May 26, the Leopards’ public training will not take place after all.”
This decision follows reports of suspected cases of Ebola in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.
There is also uncertainty over whether the team’s French coach, Sébastien Desabre, will go ahead with a press conference scheduled in the capital, the statement said.
All DR Congo players are based outside the Central African country and will therefore not be affected by the restrictions now that the training camp has been cancelled.
Some of the DR Congo team personnel left the country on Wednesday, Kalemo told the Associated Press, ahead of the 21-day deadline.
However, some fans and journalists, who have applied for US visas through Congo’s sports ministry, are concerned as the US embassy in DR Congo has suspended its visa services in light of the Ebola outbreak.
