DR Congo arrive in the US for World Cup after Ebola quarantine

Al Jazeera said the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA) reported that CDC officials and FIFA medical coordinator Iván Carvalho confirmed a "zero infection case" report for the 36-member delegation as it landed at Newark Liberty International on Thursday. The squad had spent 21 days at an extra health camp outside Kinshasa before travelling on to its base in Houston. Players expected to feature, including Yoane Wissa, Cédric Bakambu and Chancel Mbemba, were said to have produced negative tests pre-travel.

WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said that, as of June 12, the weekly new-case count in Kinshasa had fallen from 14 to six. AJ said the Ebola Sudan strain's transmission was easing but that FECOFA was still using a protocol of sending only immunised players to its European camps. The US State Department confirmed an accelerated visa track had been applied to the delegation.

FIFA's medical unit announced that three consecutive negative PCR results would be required from each player before the opening match. The DRC are drawn into Group B with Brazil, Croatia and New Zealand. Banque Commerciale du Congo shares closed 1.2 per cent higher on the Kinshasa exchange. Not investment advice.