A few hours ahead of the Lions A’ and Leopards A’ meeting in the CHAN 2020 Final 8, 13 DRC players were tested positive for Covid-19.

The DRC still cannot believe it. Friday night, the results of the Covid-19 test announced that 13 new positive cases had been found in Leopard’s camp. 13 new cases of Covid-19 have been detected within the DRC team added to the other 12 players, making it 25 players disqualified to play the CHAN 2020 quarter-finals tonight. There are only 8 players left to play. No goalkeeper. Ibengue has just been declared positive. There is total confusion at Onomo hotel where the Leopards stay.

This is unacceptable to the Congolese. They do not understand how players confined to their hotel could have contracted the virus. To the worst, the Congolese A’ coach, Florent Ibenge, who had been negative a few days ago, has just been infected again, according to the results of yesterday’s tests. Stunned, the Congolese protest against these results. And they accuse their opponent of having distorted these tests.

“In the middle of a technical meeting, the opposing party, the Cameroonian side then, announces that we have 13 (positive cases of) Covid. We reply : ‘Listen, we don’t know anything. we are waiting for the results’. Even the CAF, that is chairing the technical meeting, is surprised that it is the opponent who is making this announcement“, Said the Congolese selection coordinator, Theo Binamungu, in front of the media, before accusing Cameroon.

According to Mr Makengo, president of the lisped, this is a conspiracy from the organizing country, Cameroon to destabilize the DRC. “We have just learned that there is a plot against the Leopards. They want to remove 13 other players, claiming that they are positive to Corona. We say no to this plot. We came here to play football. And we are asking for a counter-expertise from the Congolese experts. They should send us INRB experts as soon as possible.” Said Mr Makengo in a video.