Spanish authorities have called off a World Cup warm-up match involving DR Congo due to health concerns linked to the country’s Ebola outbreak.
The mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion in southern Spain has cancelled a scheduled friendly match between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile over fears surrounding the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the African nation.
Mayor Juan Franco said he signed a decree banning the June 9 fixture as a precautionary measure after receiving recommendations from Andalusia’s regional health authorities and local medical officials. According to Franco, health experts advised against hosting the match because of potential public health risks.
DR Congo, who recently qualified for their first FIFA World Cup since competing as Zaire in 1974, have been preparing for the tournament in Belgium after cancelling a planned training camp at home due to the outbreak.
The Ebola outbreak was declared in eastern DR Congo in mid-May. Meanwhile, US authorities have reportedly required the Congolese squad to complete a 21-day isolation period before entering the United States for the World Cup.
The cancellation adds another challenge to DR Congo’s World Cup preparations as the team continues its build-up to the tournament amid health concerns.
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