Sierra Leone’s national football team, Leone Stars, is expected to undergo quarantine upon returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), following concerns about the possible spread of Ebola.
The country’s Deputy Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), Dr Mohamed Alex Vandi, announced the measure during an Ebola preparedness meeting with private healthcare practitioners.
According to Dr Vandi, the decision is intended to protect the public and reduce the risk of the virus entering Sierra Leone.
The announcement follows the team’s trip to Kinshasa, where they reportedly played a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against DR Congo on 12 November.
Sierra Leone was among the countries hardest hit by the West African Ebola epidemic between 2014 and 2016, which killed thousands of people and placed enormous pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
The experience has made Ebola preparedness a major public health concern, particularly when outbreaks are reported elsewhere in Africa.
The NPHA has been engaging private healthcare providers as part of efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, early detection and emergency response.
However, authorities have not disclosed how long the footballers and technical staff would remain in quarantine or where they would be accommodated.
The proposed quarantine comes amid a major Ebola outbreak in DR Congo. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the country had recorded 11,114 confirmed cases and 5,433 deaths as of 10 November 2026. ecdc.europa.eu
The outbreak has been linked to the Bundibugyo virus, with infections also reported in Kenya and Nigeria.
There has been no indication in the information provided that any Leone Stars player or official has contracted Ebola.
