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By Spy Uganda
The Uganda Cranes’ planned international friendly matches against Tanzania and Madagascar have been cancelled after Moroccan authorities raised public health concerns linked to the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
The national team had already travelled to Morocco ahead of the two fixtures, which were scheduled to take place in Marrakech on June 5 and June 8. The matches were expected to provide head coach Paul Put with a valuable opportunity to assess his squad and fine-tune preparations for upcoming international assignments, including qualification campaigns and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The cancellation was confirmed by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) on Wednesday, following communication from match organizers and Moroccan authorities.
In a statement, FUFA said the fixtures had been called off due to “sanitary and public health considerations” arising from concerns about the spread of Ebola.
“The two international friendly matches against Tanzania and Madagascar have been cancelled due to sanitary and public health considerations as communicated by authorities through our match agents,” the federation said.
The development came after the Uganda Cranes delegation had already arrived in Morocco to begin preparations for the games. FUFA indicated that arrangements had immediately been made for players and officials to return to their respective destinations.
The cancellation is a setback for the technical team, which had hoped to use the international window to evaluate players, strengthen team chemistry, and test tactical approaches ahead of future competitions.
Uganda travelled with an 18-man squad that included several foreign-based stars such as Allan Okello, currently with Young Africans SC, Rogers Mato of Hearts of Oak, Travis Mutyaba of CS Sfaxien, and Aziz Kayondo, who plays for Slovan Liberec.
Reports indicate that other East African national teams scheduled to play friendly matches in Morocco have also been affected by the precautionary measures, with several fixtures cancelled under similar circumstances.
The decision follows heightened vigilance after Uganda confirmed additional Ebola cases linked to cross-border transmission from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health authorities have maintained that surveillance and containment measures remain active, while government agencies continue to monitor the situation closely.
Despite the disappointment, football officials are expected to explore alternative arrangements to ensure the national team remains active and adequately prepared for upcoming competitive fixtures.
For now, the Uganda Cranes return home without playing a match, as public health concerns take precedence over sporting engagements.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/ebola-effect-uganda-cranes-friendlies-against-tanzania-madagascar-cancelled/
