Written by: Mohamed Ragab
The Democratic Republic of Congo national football team has announced that it is moving its preparatory training camp to Belgium, after it was originally scheduled to be held in the capital Kinshasa, due to concerns related to the Ebola outbreak in the country.
The Congolese national team's media officer told AFP that the coaching staff had planned to hold the three-day training camp in Kinshasa as part of preparations for the World Cup, before deciding to move it to Europe as a precautionary measure in light of recent health developments.
The coaching staff selects professional players from abroad.
The official confirmed that the national team's technical director, Sebastien Desabre, did not include any local players residing within the Democratic Republic of Congo in the upcoming camp, explaining that most of the national team members and the technical staff reside in France and a number of European countries.
Reports also indicated that Pyramids striker Fiston Maille is currently in Cairo, on the list of professional players outside the country.
Health concerns arise after a rise in infections and deaths.
According to reports, health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo suspect an Ebola outbreak after recording 139 deaths and more than 600 infections in the past period, raising international concerns about the spread of the disease and its impact on travel and sporting events.
In the same context, an official at the US State Department confirmed to the French network RMC that the Democratic Republic of Congo national team will participate in the World Cup as normal, explaining that holding the training camp in Europe puts the team outside the scope of the direct health restrictions imposed on those coming from countries affected by the virus.
Special exception for the national team delegation
The US official explained that any player or member of the national team delegation who visited the Democratic Republic of Congo during the 21 days prior to entering the United States would be subject to a special exception allowing them entry, provided they adhere to strict health procedures including thorough examinations, isolation protocols, and medical follow-up.
He noted that these facilities are limited only to the national team delegation, while fans coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo will remain subject to the strict health restrictions recently imposed by the US authorities to limit the spread of the Ebola virus.
US restrictions on affected countries
The United States had announced health measures and restrictions on the entry of foreigners who had visited countries experiencing an outbreak of the virus, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda, during the last 21 days, as part of its efforts to limit the transmission of infection through border crossings.
