Cancellation of Matches Amid Health Concerns
The Ugandan Football Federation has announced the cancellation of two friendly matches that were scheduled to take place against Tanzania and Madagascar on June 5 and June 8 in Marrakech. This decision falls within the framework of the international break designated by FIFA for national teams.
In an official statement, the Ugandan Federation clarified that the cancellation was communicated through the match organizers, citing public health concerns as the primary reason for this decision. The move was taken following directives from the relevant authorities due to fears surrounding the potential spread of the Ebola virus in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It was noted that the Ugandan national team had already arrived in Morocco in preparation for the matches before receiving the cancellation notice. Rogers Mulindwa, head of the Ugandan delegation and a member of the Federation's executive committee, expressed the Federation's regret over the cancellation of the friendly matches against Tanzania and Madagascar. He confirmed that team members would return to their respective destinations following the inability to conduct the games.
Mulindwa took the opportunity to extend gratitude to the Moroccan government and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to the "Cranes" squad during their stay in the kingdom.
On a related note, the Ugandan Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday that six new Ebola cases had been documented. The Ministry's official statement indicated that two individuals had recovered and been discharged from the hospital, while twelve others were still receiving treatment, and one person had succumbed to the virus.
The Ugandan team had organized these matches as part of their preparations for upcoming continental competitions, having previously announced a squad of 28 players for the training camp in Morocco. However, the cancellation of these matches has disrupted their plans during the June international window.
As reported by hespress.com.
