Ebola Screenings Ordered for Fans Ahead of Nigeria-Congo Qualifier
Spectators attending the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Congo on September 6 will be required to undergo Ebola screening before entering the Calabar Stadium, officials in Nigeria have confirmed.
The health precaution comes amid growing concerns over the Ebola virus, which has claimed at least seven lives in Nigeria. The victims include five people in the commercial hub of Lagos and two others in Port Harcourt—just 150 kilometres from Calabar, where the match will be held.
An official from Cross River State, where the stadium is located, announced on Thursday that all fans would be screened for signs of the virus as part of efforts to prevent a possible outbreak at the venue.
Nigeria is one of several West African countries affected by the deadly virus, which has killed more than 1,500 people across the region since the start of the year. Authorities are taking no chances, particularly with thousands of supporters expected to attend the high-profile match.
However, the decision to proceed with the match in Nigeria has raised concerns within the Congolese delegation. Congo were drafted into the qualifiers after Rwanda’s disqualification and have expressed unease about travelling to Nigeria given the health risks.
“We wrote to CAF to get their opinion on the situation in Nigeria,” a Congolese official said. “We are waiting to see if they will change the venue. It is a great concern for us.”
Despite the concerns, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stood firm on its decision to keep the fixture in Calabar. In a statement issued on August 28, the continental governing body said there would be no changes to the competition calendar.
“The Confederation of African Football has not yet made any changes to the calendar and timetable of its current competitions,” the statement read. “The venues, dates and times of the matches scheduled for the next two weeks, including the first and second rounds of the group stage of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Morocco 2015, remain the same as initially announced.”
CAF’s stance is in line with current health advisories that have not imposed travel bans to or from Nigeria. Nonetheless, the decision to go ahead with the match in Calabar—despite its proximity to a city with confirmed Ebola cases—remains controversial.
As kickoff approaches, Nigerian health officials are intensifying public awareness campaigns and implementing screening protocols to reassure both local and visiting teams, as well as the general public.
