The excitement for the upcoming FIFA World Cup is hitting a fever pitch, but for the Democratic Republic of Congo, the road to the tournament has hit a sudden bump. 🌍 The national football team has officially cancelled their planned pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa following a worrying Ebola outbreak in the country.
It is a tough time for the region, as health authorities reported that the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever, declared last Friday in eastern DR Congo, is suspected to have caused 139 deaths from approximately 600 probable cases. Safety first! 🛡️
To keep the squad healthy and focused, officials have pivoted, moving the three-day training camp to Belgium. While team officials didn't explicitly link the move to the outbreak, it is notable that no locally based players were selected for the national squad this time around. ✈️🇧🇪
This World Cup is a huge deal for the team. This marks only the second time they have qualified for the tournament in their history—the first being way back in 1974 when they competed as Zaire. Talk about a legendary comeback! 🌟
The team is preparing for a whirlwind tour across the host nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Here is the roadmap for their Group K campaign starting next month:
- June 17: Opening match against Portugal in Houston 🇺🇸
- June 24: Clashing with Colombia in Guadalajara 🇲🇽
- June 28: Final group-stage battle against Uzbekistan in Atlanta 🇺🇸
There was some brief drama regarding travel restrictions, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) imposed rules on non-Americans arriving from DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan. But don't panic! 😌 A US official confirmed this Tuesday that the Congolese team will still be able to play. Since the squad has already been training in Europe, they likely won't trigger the restrictions. Even for those who were recently in DR Congo, it's just enhanced health screening—no travel bans here!
We are sending all the positive vibes to the players and the people of DR Congo. Let's hope for a speedy recovery for the region and a smashing performance on the pitch! ⚽️💪✨
Reference(s):
DR Congo cancels World Cup training in Kinshasa amid Ebola outbreak
cgtn.com
