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The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has blocked an international friendly between Uganda and Kazakhstan.
"Our national team was meant to travel today to Kazakhstan, but FIFA has called off the match because they think our players will not rest enough after playing a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Botswana on Saturday," Edgar Watson, the Uganda FA Chief Executive Officer told Xinhua on Sunday.
The Kazakhstan FA had invited Uganda for a friendly match to take place on June 17 at the Astana Arena. However, Watson said FIFA called it off because of the new rule which cannot allow a team to travel for a trip that will last over five hours and play the game less than 48 hours after their last encounter.
"It is sad the match is put off, but we need to respect these new rules," explained Watson.
The Uganda Cranes team of home based players was set to travel to use the game as a build-up before they face Tanzania on June 20 in a 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier.
Watson explained that FIFA asked the Kazakhstan FA to move the game to June 18, but that would also affect the Ugandan team who are expected to arrive in time ahead of their 2016 CHAN qualifier against Tanzania on June 20 in Zanzibar.
Head Coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic said although he is disappointed that his team will not be tested before the Tanzania game, he will have no option but to prepare it well enough. "We shall head to Njeru Training Centre on Monday so that we train on the artificial play ground which is similar to the one we shall use in Zanzibar," added the coach.
Uganda will be seeking to qualify for a third straight CHAN event after making it to the 2011 event in Khartoum, Sudan and last year in South Africa.
