With the WHO declaring a global health emergency, coach Sébastien Desabre and his squad are shifting operations entirely to Europe to prepare for their historic tournament return; Yankee Scores reports…

Democratic Republic of Congo will no longer embark on a three-day World Cup preparation training camp and a planned farewell to fans in the capital Kinshasa due to an Ebola outbreak in the country.

The Altered Roadmap to World Cup

Preparations will take place elsewhere after an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola known as Bundibugyo in the east of the country.  Over 130 people are feared dead and almost 600 suspected cases have been reported.

The World Health Organization is monitoring closely and has declared it a public health emergency of international concern.

“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 cancelled — the one in Kinshasa,” Kalemo said.

All of the players of the national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its French coach, Sebastien Desabre, are outside the central African state, with many of them playing football in France.

“Some staff who live in Congo ‘are leaving in the next hours,’ Kalemo stated.

FIFA released a statement saying: “It is aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the Congo DR Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.”

 U.S. Travel Restrictions

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the United States plans to bar all non-U.S. citizens from entering the U.S. who have been in the Central African Republic, Congo, South Sudan or Uganda in the last 21 days.

However, a U.S. official told CNN that the Congolese national soccer team participating in the FIFA World Cup will not be impacted by the CDC entry ban. The reason is that the team has been playing in Europe for the past few weeks, which would put them outside the 21-day window, he explained.

Way Forward

Both Congo matches scheduled for preparation prior to the World Cup, against Denmark on June 3 in Liege, Belgium, and against Chile on June 9 in southern Spain, are confirmed to go as scheduled, according to team spokesperson Jerry Kalemo to The Associated Press Wednesday.