Nigeria, June 5 -- The match, originally billed for June 9 in La Linea de la Concepcion in southern Spain, was abruptly pulled the plug on after local authorities cited public health concerns tied to Ebola fears linked to the Central African nation.

City mayor Juan Franco, a Juan Franco, confirmed he signed off on the ban following recommendations from health officials, who warned that staging the fixture could pose potential risks.

However, DR Congo has accused the decision of being an overreaction that turned precaution into punishment. Officials argue that the game was swept away by fear rather than facts.

The national team, which has been sharpening its claws in Belgium ahead of World Cup preparations, insists it has no direct lin...