DR Congo seek World Cup ticket refunds after Ebola outbreak

The Leopards did have to cancel a pre-tournament training camp in Kinshasa and are assembling in Belgium for friendlies before heading to their base in Texas.

Fifa told the BBC it is in "close communication" with Fecofa, World Cup host governments and relevant health agencies to ensure medical and security compliance.

A half-century wait

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DR Congo will play Portugal and Uzbekistan in the USA and Colombia in Mexico in their Group K outings

DR Congo holds pride of place as the first sub-Saharan country to compete at the World Cup, featuring in 1974 when it was called Zaire.

For Mosengo-Omba, their return after a 52-year absence marks a rebirth.

"This is the resurrection of football in this country," he declared.

"People forget their problems now they are following the Leopards. The team need to go to the second round."

Mosengo-Omba was elected Fecofa president this month after stepping down from his role as the secretary general of the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

He departed in March following the fall-out from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final, having previously been criticised for staying in office past Caf's mandatory retirement age of 63.

But Mosengo-Omba, who was previously chief member associations officer at Fifa, is excited by his new role.

"With the new leaders, we bring the football of this country in the very high level," he said.

"We are not saying that we will win the Afcon or World Cup, but we will build a solid foundation for the future."

'The world does not need to be afraid'

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The World Health Organization has declared May's Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern

The diplomatic hurdle comes amid mounting global panic over yet another Ebola outbreak - with DR Congo at the epicentre of several outbreaks since the deadly virus was discovered in the 1970s.

Mosengo-Omba, however, has warned that perceptions about the disease are causing unnecessary anxiety.

"Some people are thinking Ebola is genetic, it's a contamination," he stated.

"It's ignorance about this disease.

"Okay, there's Ebola in DRC, in Ituri, in the rural parts. Because Congo is big, it's not because you are from DRC you get Ebola immediately.

"The country in the world who knows how to fight this disease is DRC because we have faced this many times.

"The world doesn't need to be afraid."

However, this latest outbreak has been caused by the rare Bundibugyo viral strain, which has not been seen for over a decade.

With no vaccine currently available, it is harder to treat.

That, coupled with community distrust and armed conflict which has displaced tens of thousands of people in the Eastern part of DRC, have made it difficult for the outbreak to be contained.

Now it is threatening to overshadow a footballing moment decades in the making.