The Result Under The Result
MADRI D — The planned warmup match between Congo and Chile in the Spanish city of La Linea de la Concepcion has been cancelled after the local mayor denied authorization over health concerns related to the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda.
The friendly was scheduled for Tuesday but fell through despite efforts from Congo's soccer federation to find alternative arrangements with the Spanish soccer federation and relevant international bodies.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
The Useful Context
Congo's team, nicknamed the Leopards, had already scrapped a three-day World Cup preparation training camp in Kinshasa and a planned farewell to fans in the capital because of the outbreak affecting the eastern part of the country. Most of the squad, along with French coach Sébastien Desabre, are based outside Congo with the majority playing in France.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola situation a public health emergency of international concern. FIFA stated it is monitoring the developments and maintaining communication with Congo soccer officials to ensure the team receives appropriate medical and security guidance.
The Part Still Unclear
Congo qualified for their first World Cup since 1974, when the team was known as Zaire, and will face Portugal in Houston on June 17, Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23, and Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27 in Group K.
The squad had been scheduled to face Denmark in Liege, Belgium on Wednesday as part of their tournament preparations.