DRC suggests behind-closed-doors World Cup warm-up to offset Ebola threat

The Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team is considering playing their pre-World Cup friendly match against Chile behind closed doors, according to head coach Sebastien Desabre. This proposal comes after the mayor of the Spanish town of La Linea de la Concepcion cancelled the June 9th match, citing health concerns related to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC.

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I have signed the decree banning the holding of the June 9 match between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile.

Mayor Juan Franco stated the cancellation was a precautionary measure, following recommendations from the Andalusia regional government's health service. Desabre, however, expressed hope that the match could still proceed, mentioning alternative stadiums and the possibility of playing without spectators. He emphasized the team's adaptability to various situations.

The DRC, who have qualified for their first World Cup since 1974, had already cancelled a planned training camp in their home country due to the Ebola outbreak. They have since been based in Belgium. Desabre assured that all necessary medical precautions are being followed, with doctors coordinating with FIFA, and that the team's daily operations remain unaffected.

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There are other stadiums. There’s the option of playing behind closed doors. There are several possibilities. I can’t really comment on that.

The Ebola outbreak was declared in eastern DRC in mid-May. Concerns about the highly contagious disease have led to strict protocols, including a 21-day isolation period for the Congo squad before entering the United States for the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19. The DRC is scheduled to play Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in the group stage.

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The only thing I can say is that we’re used to adapting, and whatever happens, we’ll have no problem adapting to all these situations.