The Ebola virus outbreak during the 2014–2015 period cast a long shadow over African football, and its ripple effects were clearly felt across European clubs, particularly those with players returning from international duty in West Africa.
Roberto Di Matteo: “It’s worrying. I know it’s dangerous.”
Newly appointed Schalke 04 coach Roberto Di Matteo did not hide his concerns, especially after his players, including Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, returned from AFCON 2015 qualifiers. Choupo-Moting had been with Cameroon, who faced Sierra Leone — a country among the hardest hit by Ebola at the time.
“It’s worrying. I know it’s dangerous. But for now, I want to focus on Saturday’s game,” said Di Matteo, acknowledging the health risk while also trying to keep the team focused on domestic competitions.
Health Risks and Club Tensions
Clubs like Schalke were stuck in a difficult position:
They had legal obligations to release players for international duty.
But they were rightfully concerned about the health and safety of both players and the squad upon return, especially since Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea were at the epicenter of the outbreak.
Similar caution had already been expressed by coaches like Jürgen Klopp, and teams across France, Germany, and England were quietly lobbying for stricter health protocols or even AFCON postponement — a request rejected by CAF.
Broader Implications
Di Matteo’s reaction is emblematic of how the Ebola crisis strained the relationship between African national teams and European clubs. Concerns weren’t only medical but also:
Travel restrictions
Player quarantines
Public relations and fan anxiety
In short, while coaches like Di Matteo didn’t openly oppose AFCON participation, they did voice the growing unease in European football circles as health and sport collided in unprecedented ways.
