Democratic Republic of Congo’s planned international friendly against Chile in Spain next week has been cancelled after local authorities raised health concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak in the African country. The match was due to take place on 9 June in La Línea de la Concepción, a coastal city in southern Spain near the Gibraltar border, but mayor Juan Franco signed a decree blocking the fixture as a precautionary measure. The decision followed recommendations from the Andalusian regional health service and La Línea’s own medical department.
Franco said a report from the municipality’s health service advised against hosting the game because of the health risks that could arise. La Línea, which has a population of about 65,000, had been due to stage the match as both teams continue their preparations for the World Cup.
DR Congo are currently based in Belgium after cancelling a planned pre-tournament training camp in Kinshasa because of the Ebola outbreak in the east of the country. BBC Sport understands that none of the players, who all play for clubs outside DR Congo, have recently visited the country, although some support staff and fans have travelled from there.
The cancellation comes amid broader international concern over the outbreak. The US public health agency has banned entry for non-Americans who have been in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days in response to the situation. The outbreak in eastern DR Congo has been caused by a rare form of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, for which there is currently no vaccine. The World Health Organisation has said it could take up to nine months for a vaccine to be ready.
DR Congo are scheduled to play Denmark in a friendly in Liege on Wednesday. The team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and plans to base itself in Houston during the tournament. It will open its Group K campaign against Portugal on 17 June in Houston before travelling to Guadalajara to play Colombia and then returning to the United States to face Uzbekistan in Atlanta.
The cancelled Chile match was part of DR Congo’s final preparations before the tournament, but health concerns now mean the team must adjust its build-up. Local officials in Spain said the decision was made to reduce any potential risk associated with the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
