DR Congo decries cancellation of friendly match against Chile in Spain

(FILES) This photograph shows the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy following the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Play-Off draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. beIN Sports will broadcast in France all the matches of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, to the detriment of the Ligue 1+ platform, which had nevertheless reached an agreement with FIFA, AFP learned on February 11, 2026 from several sources close to the matter. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

The Democratic Republic of Congo has criticised the cancellation of its scheduled friendly match against Chile in Spain over concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak in the African country. The match was due to be played on June 9 in La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain, but local authorities called it off on public health grounds. Mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion, 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. The DR Congo national team has, however, been training in Belgium ahead of its World Cup campaign. Reports indicate that none of the 26 players is based in DR Congo or travelled directly from the country to the training camp, although some support staff and supporters may have done so. Related News Outrage in Kenya over US plan to build Ebola quarantine facility From Ronaldo, Messi to Rice: Top stars to watch at 2026 World Cup Shakira, Burna Boy to perform official World Cup song at opening ceremony Reacting to the development, DR Congo’s Minister of Communication, Patrick Muyaya, described the decision as unfair. Speaking during a virtual press conference organised 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. The cancelled fixture was part of DR Congo’s preparations for forthcoming international competitions, including the World Cup. (Xinhua/NAN) Tosin Oyediran Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and enterta