The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national soccer team remains optimistic about finding a new venue for their World Cup preparation match against Chile following a Spanish city’s refusal to host the game over health safety concerns tied to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
Officials in La Linea de la Concepcion, located in southern Spain, announced their decision to block next Tuesday’s friendly match, expressing worries about potential health risks connected to the Ebola crisis affecting the African nation.
Congo’s soccer federation confirmed they are actively working with Spain’s soccer federation and other international organizations to identify alternative solutions for the scheduled warmup game.
The team was set to face Denmark in a preparation match in Liege, Belgium, on Wednesday as part of their World Cup readiness efforts.
A dangerous strain of the Ebola virus has been spreading through Congo and Uganda, prompting the World Health Organization to classify the situation as a public health emergency requiring international attention.
The outbreak has already forced Congo to scrap a three-day training camp for World Cup preparation and cancel a planned fan sendoff event in Kinshasa, the nation’s capital, due to the health crisis affecting the country’s eastern regions.
The entire Congo squad and their French coach, Sébastien Desabre, currently live and work outside the central African nation, with the majority of players competing in French leagues.
FIFA, soccer’s international governing organization, released a statement acknowledging their awareness of the Ebola situation and confirmed they are staying in regular contact with Congo’s soccer leadership to provide necessary medical and safety protocols.
Congo has been placed in Group K for the upcoming World Cup competition. Their tournament opener is against Portugal in Houston on June 17.
Following that match, the Leopards will take on Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23, then conclude group play against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.
This marks Congo’s first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the country competed under the name Zaire, creating widespread celebration throughout the nation that has endured years of internal strife and warfare.
