The Democratic Republic of Congo has strongly criticized the cancellation of its scheduled international friendly match against Chile, which was set to take place in Spain. Local authorities called off the fixture over concerns related to the Ebola outbreak in the African nation.
Match Details and Cancellation
The friendly was originally scheduled for June 9 in La Linea de la Concepcion, a town in southern Spain. However, the mayor, Juan Franco, announced that he had signed a decree banning the match following a recommendation from local health officials. According to Franco, a report from the town’s health service advised against staging the fixture because of potential health risks associated with the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo.
DR Congo's Response
Reacting to the development, DR Congo’s Minister of Communication, Patrick Muyaya, described the decision as unfair. Speaking during a virtual press conference organized by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Muyaya said the cancellation had created difficulties for the national team’s preparations. He noted that the players had been training in Belgium for about three weeks and argued that the decision could be interpreted as discriminatory.
Muyaya emphasized that none of the 26 players in the squad is based in DR Congo or traveled directly from the country to the training camp. However, he acknowledged that some support staff and supporters may have done so.
Impact on Team Preparations
The cancelled fixture was part of DR Congo’s preparations for forthcoming international competitions, including the World Cup. The team has been training in Belgium ahead of the tournament. The decision to cancel the match has disrupted their schedule and raised concerns about potential stigmatization of the country due to the Ebola outbreak.
Local authorities in Spain have defended the cancellation, citing the need to prioritize public health. However, DR Congo maintains that the decision was unnecessary and based on misinformation about the actual risks involved.
