The chances of Nigeria making it to the world cup next month received a huge boost following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus in DR Congo.
Nigeria were edged by the Congolese in the world cup qualifiers playoff , and filed a protest questioning the eligibility of some players in the Congolese team.
Their protest was dismissed by FIFA, but they now have a window in the event that DR Congo failed to get clearance to play at the world cup due to the virus.
The Ebola outbreak affecting the country was classified by the WHO as an international health crisis due to the high number of infections and deaths.
This emergency has prompted the local Football Federation to cancel their training camp in Kinshasa and move it to Belgium, where the team will prepare for matches against Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan (rivals in Group K).
Although all 26 players called up play abroad and have not recently returned home, the situation is being continuously monitored by FIFA, also following the United States’ decision to introduce temporary entry restrictions for those who have been in risk areas, complicating the matches in Houston (against Portugal) and Atlanta (against Uzbekistan).
In Mexico, Health Minister Kershenobich has issued an epidemiological alert ahead of the match in Guadalajara (against Colombia), prompting local experts to call for a 21-day quarantine for African players and an entry ban for their fans, as reported by Sportmediaset.
If these restrictions were to somehow prevent the Democratic Republic of the Congo from participating in the competition, a spot in the main draw would be freed up, with FIFA then deciding which national teams would be eligible to complete the roster.
This could therefore provide a new window of opportunity for one of either Nigeria because or Jamaica who were beaten by DR Congo in n the intercontinental playoff, although this prospect currently seems very remote.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
