DR Congo Criticizes Cancellation of Chile Match in Spain

The Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team faced the cancellation of a scheduled friendly match against Chile, set for June 9 in La Línea de la Concepción, Spain. Local authorities, led by Mayor Juan Franco, called off the match on public health grounds, following recommendations from local health officials due to potential health risks associated with an Ebola outbreak in the region.

Despite the cancellation, the Congolese team was training in Belgium as part of their World Cup campaign preparations. Minister of Communication Patrick Muyaya expressed that the decision was unfair during a virtual press conference organized by the World Health Organization, arguing that it created difficulties for the national team's preparations.

He noted that none of the 26 players based in the Democratic Republic of Congo traveled directly to Spain, although some support staff did. Muyaya characterized the cancellation as discriminatory, impacting the team's readiness for upcoming international competitions, including the World Cup.