Because of the Ebola outbreak sweeping the eastern part of the country, the preparation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s national team for the upcoming World Cup, as well as several activities planned around the Leopards, have been cancelled a few weeks before the start of the competition.
The virus is disrupting the DRC Leopards’ preparations. According to information relayed by ESPN, the three-day training camp and the farewell ceremony planned in Kinshasa will ultimately not take place. A decision made by head coach Frenchman Sébastien Desabre and the technical staff, due to concerns related to the spread of the virus.
“Our preparation consisted of three stages: saying goodbye to the team in Kinshasa, two friendly matches in Europe, and then an acclimatization stay in Houston. Only the first stage has been cancelled,” explained Jerry Kalemo, the Congo national team press officer.
The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency in response to this new Ebola outbreak, which has already caused about 130 deaths. This health situation is prompting several players playing in Europe, notably in France, to avoid any travel to Africa before the World Cup.
The players still in the DRC are expected to leave the country in the coming days to join the rest of the squad in Europe, where the Leopards will continue their preparations through two friendly matches planned against Denmark and Chile.
