DR Congo cancel World Cup training camp in Kinshasa over Ebola outbreak

DRC’s public sendoff in the capital was also cancelled before their departure for the FIFA-world-cup" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="1741" data-entity-type="event">FIFA World Cup.The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) football team have cancelled a three-day World Cup preparation training camp and a planned public farewell to fans in the capital, Kinshasa, because of an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.DRC are scheduled to play World Cup warm-up games against Denmark in Liege, Belgium, on June 3, and Chile in southern Spain on June 9. Both matches are going ahead as planned, team spokesman Jerry Kalemo told The Associated Press on Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4African football chief will ‘respect’ CAS decision on AFCON final rowlist 2 of 4Celebrations erupt as DR Congo ends over 50-year World Cup waitlist 3 of 4World Cup 2026 base camps: Where will the 48 teams stay and train?list 4 of 4The debutants club: Which teams are set to play at their first World Cup?end of list“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 canceled – the one in Kinshasa,” Kalemo said.The team’s pre-tournament preparations will now take place elsewhere after an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, which is thought to have killed more than 130 people and caused nearly 600 suspected cases.The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern.All of the DRC players and the team’s French coach, Sebastien Desabre, are based outside of the central African country, with most of them playing in France.A number of team staff who are based in DRC “are leaving in the next hours”, Kalemo said.Football’s governing body FIFA issued a statement that “it is aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the DRC Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.”