Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji and Prisca Chilufya face a required quarantine after playing for Zambia in Uganda, keeping them out of multiple league games.
Three NWSL players are stuck in limbo after representing Zambia in a recent international window, unable to rejoin their U.S. clubs because of government health protocols tied to the Ebola outbreak in East Africa.
Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda, Chicago Stars' Racheal Kundananji and Angel City's Prisca Chilufya all featured for Zambia in an Oct. 8 match in Uganda. Under current U.S. re-entry rules for travelers from the region, they are now required to complete a 21-day quarantine before returning to the country.
The NWSL confirmed the situation in a statement Friday, saying the players are "observing U.S. government public health re-entry protocols required for travelers returning from the East African region." The league added that it is working with its clubs and U.S. immigration officials to sort out the players' return, and stressed that all three are in excellent health.
With the quarantine period running close to three weeks, each player is expected to miss several weeks of NWSL action for their respective clubs while the process plays out.