Three Zambia international players will likely miss several weeks of the NWSL season after traveling to Uganda and facing a 21-day restriction upon reentering the United States.
The Copper Queens traveled to Uganda for the first leg of CAF Olympics qualifiers on Oct. 8. The teams then traveled to Zambia, where they concluded the series Tuesday.
The Centers for Disease Control restricts foreign nationals who have traveled to certain areas of Eastern Africa within the last 21 days from entering the U.S. due to an Ebola outbreak in the region. Affected areas include Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Following their participation with the Zambian Women’s National Team during the recent international window, several players are currently observing U.S. government public health re-entry protocols required for travelers returning from the East African region,” an NWSL spokesperson said in a statement to The Athletic on Friday.
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The league did not identify the players affected, but three Zambian internationals who currently play in the NWSL — Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda, Chicago Stars forward Racheal Kundananji and Angel City FC forward Prisca Chilufya — featured in both legs against Uganda. Chilufya was listed out in Friday night’s NWSL availability report as an excused absence.
The Copper Queens advanced to the next round of qualifying on a 5-3 aggregate win, with Banda scoring twice Tuesday.
In a statement released Friday, the NWSL said it is “working with its clubs and U.S. immigration to ensure the players’ safe return,” adding that “all players are in excellent health.” When reached by The Athletic, spokespersons for the Pride, Stars and Angel City declined comment and referred questions to the league.
Unless the players are granted a government exemption, the 21-day restriction for reentry to the United States would lift around Oct. 30. The exact date depends on when the national team left Uganda after its Oct. 8 match. The final day of the NWSL regular season is Nov. 1.
Banda, captain of Zambia’s national team, is in a tight race for this year’s Golden Boot. With 17 goals in 23 matches, she is three goals behind league leader Ashley Sanchez of the North Carolina Courage. The Pride are 9 points below the playoff line with three matches left in the regular season and a steep goal differential to overcome.
Angel City is in sixth place with 43 points as it pushes for the second playoff berth in club history. Only 2 points separate the teams occupying the final four playoff positions, with Angel City on a seven-match unbeaten streak. Chilufya is fourth on Angel City with five goals in 24 games.
Kundananji was traded to the Chicago Stars from Bay FC last week. Chicago was the first team eliminated from playoff contention, and Kundananji’s Stars debut might have to wait until 2027.
This is not the first time players’ travel has been limited by government restrictions. In 2025, the Football Association of Zambia said four of its players who played in the NWSL would not travel to China because of travel restrictions.
The specific CDC requirements restricting travelers from Uganda and DR Congo predate the recent international window and could have impacted others in recent weeks.
The Ivory Coast national team traveled to DR Congo for the first of its two-game series for the CAF Olympic qualifiers this month. The team includes Washington Spirit forward Rosemonde Kouassi, who did not travel for the first leg of the series.
A Washington Spirit spokesperson told The Athletic on Friday the club did not release Kouassi specifically to avoid expected quarantine requirements upon returning to the U.S. The spokesperson said the club worked closely with Ivory Coast to ensure the player followed necessary precautions, such as rooming individually or only with a player who had not traveled for the first leg in DR Congo.
The spokesperson said Kouassi will be available for the Spirit’s much-anticipated match against Gotham FC at Audi Field on Saturday. Gotham leads the league with 55 points, 6 points above the third-place Spirit, who must win to sustain their NWSL Shield hopes.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Chicago Red Stars, Orlando Pride, Angel City, NWSL, women’s sports
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