Cancellation of Friendly Match
In a recent development affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo’s preparations for the World Cup, a friendly match against Chile, scheduled for June 9 in southern Spain, has been scrapped due to health risks posed by an ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo. The match was set to take place at a stadium in La Línea de la Concepción, which can accommodate 10,000 spectators, near the Gibraltar border.
Health Concerns and Official Response
The local authorities acted on health advice from the regional government, prompting Mayor Juan Franco to issue a decree halting the match.
“I have signed the decree banning the holding of the match between the DR Congo and Chile,”
Franco stated, noting that the health service explicitly recommended against hosting the fixture due to potential health hazards.
As reported by the Spanish news agency EFE, there were suggestions from the Chilean team to continue the match without spectators, but the mayor’s decision stands as a precaution.
Impact on World Cup Preparations
This cancellation is part of a larger disruption to the DR Congo national team’s World Cup preparations. They have not qualified for the tournament since 1974, when they participated as Zaire, and now face considerable challenges due to the Ebola crisis in their home country.
In response to the outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified as a public health emergency of international concern, the Congolese team previously cancelled a three-day training camp and a fan farewell event in Kinshasa. By May 27, the WHO reported 906 suspected Ebola cases and 223 deaths linked to a specific strain called Bundibugyo, which has also spread to Uganda.
Relocation and Training Camp
Following the cancellation of their plans in Congo, the team has relocated its training camp to Belgium, where they are scheduled to compete against Denmark in Liège.
Health Protocols and World Cup Schedule
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, emphasized the importance of isolation for the Congolese players. He warned that failure to maintain a strict health bubble in Belgium for 21 days could jeopardize their ability to enter the U.S. for the tournament.
“We’ve made it very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11th,”
Giuliani stated.
The World Cup is set to kick off in North America on June 11, with DR Congo scheduled to play Portugal in Houston on June 17, followed by matches against Colombia in Guadalajara on June 24 and Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28.
