Three Zambian players on National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) teams are unable to immediately return to the United States after playing for their country in international matches. Reports say U.S. travel protocols tied to the Ebola outbreak prevent them from re-entering right away, leaving them to miss upcoming NWSL games.
According to outlets, the Copper Queens traveled to Uganda for the first leg of CAF Olympic qualifiers on Oct. 8 and then returned to Zambia, finishing the series on Tuesday. After being in parts of Eastern Africa, the players face a required 21-day restriction upon reentering the U.S., as referenced by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The delayed return affects availability for their NWSL clubs across multiple matches.
The accounts identify the players as Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride), Racheal Kundananji (Chicago Red Stars) and Prisca Chilufya (Angel City). While the outlets differ slightly in timing details and how they describe the likely duration of absence, they agree the missed games stem from the 21-day Ebola-related U.S. entry restriction following the Uganda trip.
