KAMPALA, Uganda

The Congolese Boxing Federation (Fecoboxe) said Tuesday that three of its boxers have disappeared in the Serbian capital Belgrade, where they went to take part in an international boxing competition.

The federation said in a statement that the organizers of the competition, the International Association of Amateur Boxing (AIBA), are aware of the missing boxers.

“The missing boxers include Lunata Nkosi, Kayala Engulu and Mpembele Nzola. They are on the run,” it said, adding the Serbian police are searching for them.

It said that initially, the Congolese delegation was scheduled to return to Kinshasa on Sunday but failed to do so because their COVID-19 tests and results were delayed and they missed the flight. As a result, it said, the Congolese boxers are leaving today on a flight using the Belgrade-Istanbul-Kinshasa route.

All five Congolese boxers were eliminated at the competition.

It is common for some players from African countries to disappear in countries where they go to participate in international games in search of greener pastures. Last week, five Eritrean female football players disappeared in Uganda, where they had gone to participate in a regional football competition.