The Democratic Republic of Congo has faulted the cancellation of planned friendly match against Chile over health safety concerns due to the Ebola outbreak in the African country.
The match, staged as a warm-up game ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was chalked-off over safety cautions with regards to players, fans and all to be involved, over the communicable disease, the DR Congo terming the cancelation as unfair and an obstruction on their preparations for the mundial competition.
Reacting, the country’s Sports Minister, Patrick Muyaya, during a virtual press conference on Friday, said that the decision cold be seen as discriminatory, adding that the 26 players have been camping in Belgium for about three weeks and are not in danger of the disease.
The government of Linea de la Concepcion, where the match was billed, and to be held June 9, decreed a ban on the fixture following rumour stating that some support staff and supporters of the affected country’s national team may have travelled home during the virus outbreak.
Mayor of the Spanish city, Juan Franco, uttered that the cancellation of the game came following its recommendations by health officials who advised against potential health risks.
The Leopards, however, played out a scoreless draw with Denmark on in a friendly on Wednesday prior to their World Cup debut fixtures against Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K.