Uganda Cranes defender Jordan Obita has voiced his frustration after the national team’s planned international friendlies in Morocco were cancelled, describing the development as a significant blow, particularly for players eager to make their mark on the national stage.
The Cranes had travelled to Marrakech for two FIFA international window matches against Tanzania and Madagascar, which were scheduled for June 5 and June 8 respectively. However, those fixtures were shelved after Moroccan authorities issued directives linked to sanitary and public health concerns, a decision later confirmed by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).
For Obita, the cancellation was more than just the loss of two matches. He believes several players in camp were denied a valuable platform to prove themselves to the coaching staff and supporters.
“It is disappointing to arrive here and receive the news that the matches will not take place. We had several new players in camp who wanted to show their qualities to the coach and to the country. For them, especially, it is a huge disappointment,” Obita said.
The experienced defender highlighted that national team camps provide a crucial assessment period, especially for fresh faces looking to break into the squad ahead of major competitions. With the friendlies no longer taking place, many of those players leave camp without the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in a competitive international setting.
The abandoned fixtures had formed an important part of head coach Paul Put’s plans as he continues building and evaluating his squad ahead of Uganda’s upcoming TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, which resumes in September.
While acknowledging the disappointment felt across the camp, Obita encouraged his teammates to remain focused and continue performing consistently at club level to stay in contention for future national team call-ups.
“Unfortunately, these things happen in football. We now have to return to our clubs, continue playing regularly and make sure we are ready for the upcoming matches in September,” he said.
The Uganda Cranes contingent had already settled in Morocco and begun preparations before the late cancellation forced a change of plans. With the June international window now lost, attention will shift towards identifying alternative ways to prepare for the demanding fixtures that await later in the year as Uganda targets success on the continental stage.
