Report: Sierra Leone can't fly to Africa Cup qualifier due to Ebola outbreak

The Sierra Leone soccer team is banned from flying to Seychelles for its Africa Cup of Nations match due to concerns about spreading the Ebola virus, BBC Africa

The Sierra Leone soccer team is banned from flying to Seychelles for its Africa Cup of Nations match due to concerns about spreading the Ebola virus, BBC Africa reports.

According to the BBC report, Seychelles officials are concerned about the spread of the virus via Sierra Leone's squad. 

Sierra Leone players Khalifa Jabbie and Abdul Bangura posted to their Facebook accounts about traveling to Seychelles, according to Sierra Express Media.

“We’ve just been stopped again at Nairobi airport saying that they got an email from the ‪# Seychelles government that we should not board the flight to the Seychelles” Jabbie posted.

Bangura also posted he was surprised by the ban.

“Can’t believe the Seychelles government is trying to stop us from entering their country. This is unbelievable.”

The Sierra Leone Football Association updated Express Media on the situation.

“According to the Seychelles FA, the decision to stop the Sierra Leone delegation from entering Seychelles came from their government as a precautionary measure against the dreaded Ebola virus but promised that they will do all in their capacity to remedy the situation."

On Thursday, Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency as more than 670 people have died from the virus.

Sierra Leone is the No. 64 team in the world and No. 13 in Africa, according to FIFA's rankings.

- Paul Palladino