CAF Champions League: APR refuses to play in DRC and requests a neutral venue
The trip of APR FC to the DRC is already sparking heated debate. Set to face FC Les Aigles du Congo in the CAF Champions League preliminary round, the Rwandan club is refusing to play the game in the DRC, citing both the spread of Ebola and the security situation in the country’s east. Their coach, Abderrahim Taleb, made the club’s stance clear on Sunday in Kigali.
The match between FC Les Aigles du Congo and APR is at the center of controversy. The Rwandan side does not want to travel to Kinshasa. Coach Abderrahim Taleb points to health and security concerns.
“As you know, there is Ebola in Congo. In addition, there is war. So we are trying to discuss with CAF to play on neutral ground,” explained the coach, according to comments relayed by Congolese journalist Jenovic Mbowa.
Ebola: An epidemic causing regional concern
Health worries are far from trivial. The DRC is currently facing a major outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, particularly in the east. According to data available in early August, nearly 3,800 confirmed cases had been recorded and more than 1,700 deaths reported. The epidemic is described as one of the fastest-spreading ever observed.
The World Health Organization had already noted a worsening situation in July, with persistent transmission in several areas of Ituri and North Kivu.
This health crisis has also affected Congolese football. During the last World Cup, the DRC national team had to contend with health measures and travel restrictions linked to the outbreak. US authorities, in particular, imposed specific conditions on members of the Congolese delegation before their arrival on American soil.
A security dimension that cannot be ignored
But behind the request for a neutral venue lies another highly sensitive issue: the war in eastern DRC. For several years, fighting has pitted Congolese forces against the M23 and various armed groups. The rebel movement is considered by the United Nations and several major powers to be supported by Rwanda, a claim Kigali denies. In March 2026, the United States notably sanctioned the Rwandan Defense Forces, accusing them of supporting, training, and fighting alongside the M23.
In July, the UN Security Council also sanctioned leaders of armed groups active in eastern Congo, including members of the AFC/M23, which is labeled as Rwanda-backed.
This situation adds a unique dimension to the clash between a Rwandan club and a Congolese team. Even though the match is strictly a sporting contest, the political and military context between the two nations inevitably impacts the logistics of the trip.
Football caught up in tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa
The paradox is even greater given that DRC and Rwanda are officially engaged in a peace process, backed notably by the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union. In July, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Washington agreements and strengthening ceasefire verification mechanisms.
But on the ground, tensions remain high. The UN continues to report an extremely concerning security situation in eastern Congo.
This is the backdrop as APR asks CAF to find a neutral venue. Abderrahim Taleb nevertheless insists his team remains ambitious: “Wherever we play, we’ll try to qualify for the second leg.”
For now, the decision lies with CAF. Even before kickoff, this fixture between APR and Les Aigles du Congo already extends far beyond the boundaries of football.
Interviews
Yesterday at 02:37
Africa
13 July 2026
World Cup 2026
11 July 2026
