KINSHASA, DR Congo – The Democratic Republic of Congo has canceled its highly anticipated pre-World Cup national training camp in Kinshasa due to strict travel bans linked to a worsening Ebola outbreak in the country.
Okay News reports that the decision was finalized on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The Leopards—who recently qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974—were forced to abort their homecoming camp after the United States government blocked entry to any non-citizens who have traveled through the DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days.
The sudden cancellation avoids a logistical disaster for head coach Sébastien Desabre. Because the entire 26-man World Cup squad plays for professional clubs outside of the DR Congo, holding the camp in Kinshasa would have automatically barred the players from entering the US ahead of their tournament opener against Portugal in Houston on June 17. Instead, team media manager Jerry Kalemo confirmed that preparations have been moved to Belgium, ensuring that upcoming European friendly matches against Denmark and Chile will proceed without interruption.
The health crisis hits as the World Health Organization (WHO) labels the latest surge a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak, centered in the eastern Ituri province, has claimed at least 159 lives out of 600 suspected cases. Health officials are particularly alarmed because the current epidemic is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment, prompting global agencies to project that a viable jab could take up to nine months to develop.
