DR Congo cancels World Cup training camp over Ebola outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo Football Federation announced that it has cancelled the national team's World Cup preparation camp in Kinshasa because of the Ebola outbreak in the east of the country. The camp may relocate to Yaoundé or Casablanca; the decision was framed around player health and travel protocols.
BBC Africa reported that the DR Congo Football Federation has cancelled a one-week training camp scheduled at Kinshasa's Stade des Martyrs. The federation said the decision followed consultations with the Ministry of Health, with player health prioritised. While the outbreak is centred in eastern Congo, some cases have been recorded in Kinshasa.
Federations in Cameroon and Morocco have offered technical support to host the camp at their facilities. Yaoundé and Casablanca are well known for facilities used in Africa Cup camps over the past three years, and a decision is expected by the end of this week. The coaching staff said they have requested FIFA travel exceptions.
The United States had previously granted an exception for the DR Congo team to enter the country provided that a health screening was completed. The uncertainty also carries risks regarding players' European club contracts and insurance terms. The federation said the squad list will be announced once the new camp location is confirmed.
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