DR Congo national football team have been forced to cancel their planned pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa following the Ebola outbreak currently affecting the eastern part of the country.
Preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have now been relocated to Belgium as health concerns continue to grow over the outbreak, which is believed to have claimed 139 lives from more than 600 suspected cases.
The situation has already been declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization, although officials stressed that the outbreak has not yet reached pandemic level.
Speaking to international media, national team spokesperson Jerry Kalemo confirmed that the squad’s European preparations would continue as scheduled despite the sudden change in plans.
Friendly matches against Denmark national football team and Chile national football team are still expected to go ahead, with DR Congo set to face Denmark on June 3 in Liege before taking on Chile on June 9 in Marbella ahead of the World Cup finals.
Meanwhile, authorities back home remain focused on containing the deadly virus, which has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
According to the WHO, no vaccine currently exists for that species, while experts estimate that it could take up to nine months before a suitable vaccine becomes available.
Despite the health crisis, excitement still surrounds DR Congo’s long awaited return to the FIFA World Cup. The nation secured qualification earlier this year after a dramatic playoff victory over Jamaica national football team.
On March 31, Axel Tuanzebe emerged as the hero after scoring the winning goal in extra time to hand DR Congo a tense 1-0 victory and seal qualification for their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
The decisive moment arrived in the 100th minute of the FIFA Inter Confederation Playoff final, when Tuanzebe reacted quickest inside the box following a corner kick and calmly tapped home to end a 52 year wait for a return to football’s biggest stage.
