Ebola outbreak forces DRC to cancel World Cup camp, farewell to fans
The senior national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been forced to cancel a three-day World Cup camping exercise and a planned farewell to fans in the capital of Kinshasa due to the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus.
The spokesman for the DRC national team, Jerry Kalemo revealed in a statement to the media that there were three stages of preparation in Kinshasa to say goodbye to the public but the first stage has been canceled due to the outbreak of Ebola.
Kalemo however disclosed that the scheduled World Cup warm-up games against Denmark in Liege, Belgium, on June 3 and Chile in southern Spain on June 9, will go ahead as planned.
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“There were three stages of preparation: in Kinshasa to say goodbye to the public, Belgium and Spain, with two friendly matches against Denmark in Liege and Chile in Spain and the third stage from June 11 in Houston, United States. Only one stage was cancelled — the one in Kinshasa,” he said.
Kalemo’s comments come after a FIFA spokesperson told The New York Times that the organization is “aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the DR Congo Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.”
The DRC will be making its first appearance at the World Cup since 1974 after defeating Nigeria on penalties in the African playoff finals in November and later pipping Jamaica to a lone goal in the intercontinental playoff in Mexico.
