The proposed sendforth friendly game against Congo DR organised by the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) for the Super Eagles ahead of their campaign at the World Cup in Russia is seriously under threat following the outbreak of Ebola.
Nigeria will take on DR Congo in a farewell game on the 27th of May but an outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease in Congo DR with 19 suspected cases in the last one month resulting in 16 confirmed cases could lead to the cancellation of the game.
Already Nigeria have taken measures to stop the disease from entering the country through it’s border by tightening security at several entry points. A move which also means that visitors from that country will be seriously screened before entering Nigeria.
“We will be screening incoming passengers, particularly passengers from the DRC and neigbouring countries. We will also ensure we step up all activities screening people coming in so that we will not be caught unawares.
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“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control will also consider sending a team to the DRC as part of building capacity for managing the outbreak. We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is concerned about the outbreak and will do everything possible to keep the country safe,” Nigeria’s minister for health Professor Isaac Adewole said yesterday.
The expected squad of Congo DR for the game will no doubt contain names of players who are based in the country, which means they could also be carriers of the deadly virus which is contagious in nature.
Last time out, the disease found it’s way into Nigeria through a Liberian diplomat who was coming into the country on an official assignment. The Federal Government won’t want to risk another similar scenario hence a ban on visitors from DR Congo might be considered.
Ade Emmanuel
