The national team canceled home training and moved preparations to Belgium, where several of its players currently play. In DR Congo, 160 suspected deaths out of 670 cases
As reported by CCTV+, the Football Association of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced a revision of the national team’s World Cup preparation schedule. The reason — the latest Ebola outbreak in the country.
The announcement came after the United States, one of the World Cup co-hosts, tightened entry rules. US authorities are now imposing a 30-day entry ban on non-US passport holders who have visited DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days.
DR Congo’s national team canceled its domestic training camp and moved part of its pre-tournament preparations to Belgium. Several team members currently play for European clubs. The US side clarified that these measures would not affect the team’s participation or preparation, as the team is training in Europe and therefore does not fall under the travel restrictions targeting arrivals from affected regions.
Meanwhile, DR Congo’s health authorities are working to contain the latest Ebola outbreak. As of Thursday, there have been 160 suspected deaths out of 670 suspected cases.
Ebola does not ask for the match schedule. It dictates its own rules. DR Congo prepared for the World Cup at home. Now it will prepare in Belgium. The US has closed entry for travelers from three countries. The national team is on that list, but the team is already in Europe — formally, the restrictions do not apply. Sport tries to rise above politics and epidemics. But the virus does not play football. 670 cases, 160 deaths. The numbers are rising. And the team is training. The question is not how many goals the Congolese will score at the tournament. The question is how many players and fans will be able to get there.
And what is more important — sport or safety. No one knows the answer yet. Not even Ebola.
