DR Congo condemns Spain’s cancellation of Chile friendly over Ebola concerns

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has expressed disappointment over the cancellation of its planned international friendly against Chile in Spain, describing the decision as unjustified and potentially discriminatory.

The match, scheduled for June 9 in the southern Spanish town of La Linea de la Concepcion, was called off after local authorities raised concerns about possible health risks linked to the Ebola outbreak in parts of DR Congo.

Mayor Juan Franco announced that he had signed an official decree suspending the fixture following recommendations from local health authorities. According to him, a report submitted by the town’s health service advised against hosting the game due to perceived public health concerns.

Despite the decision, the Congolese national team has been holding a training camp in Belgium as part of preparations for upcoming World Cup assignments.

Reports indicate that none of the 26 players in the squad travelled directly from DR Congo to Europe, as all are based abroad. However, some members of the team’s support staff and a number of supporters were expected to travel from the African nation.

Reacting to the development, DR Congo’s Minister of Communication, Patrick Muyaya, criticised the cancellation, saying it had disrupted the team’s preparations.

Speaking during a virtual briefing organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Muyaya stressed that the squad had been in Belgium for nearly three weeks and had complied with all necessary health requirements.

He argued that the move could be viewed as discriminatory, given that the players had not recently arrived from Ebola-affected areas.

The abandoned fixture formed part of DR Congo’s build-up programme ahead of future international engagements, including World Cup competitions.

Source: Xinhua/NAN