The Democratic Republic of Congo said its national football federation and International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) had confirmed its World Cup delegation is compliant with United States (US) protocols related to the Ebola outbreak, clearing the way for the team to compete at the tournament.
A team official had said on Saturday that preparations would continue as planned despite a US requirement for individuals to complete a 21-day isolation period before entering the country.
The US is co-hosting the June 11 to July 19 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
The World Health Organisation last week warned of a “very high” risk of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola spreading nationally in the DRC, with more than 1 000 suspected cases and 246 suspected deaths reported until now.
Congolese authorities said their federation Congolese Association Football Federation (FECOFA) had held talks with FIFA this week and that the delegation was now fully compliant with health and safety protocols, including cancelling a training camp in Kinshasa and relocating preparations abroad.
“I applaud FECOFA and FIFA for moving swiftly and decisively to make this responsible, reasonable determination,” DRC Ambassador to the US Yvette Kapinga Ngandu said in a statement on Wednesday.
–Reuters–
