Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has described the cancellation of Uganda’s international friendly matches in Morocco as a major blow to his preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Cranes had travelled to Morocco for two FIFA international friendlies against Tanzania and Madagascar on June 5 and June 8 respectively, but the matches were called off following directives from Moroccan authorities citing sanitary and public health considerations.
For Put, the cancellation was more than the loss of two matches. It was the loss of a valuable opportunity to assess players and continue building a squad capable of competing when the qualification campaign begins in September.
“It is a big disappointment because we know the importance of international friendly matches in our preparations. Uganda is also a hosting country and there are expectations from everyone,” Put said.
The Belgian coach explained that the camp had brought together several players he had been eager to work with, including some who had previously been unavailable because of injuries. He said the friendlies would have provided a crucial chance to see how they performed in the national team environment.
“Some players were finally here after previous challenges such as injuries. I was looking forward to working with them and seeing what they could offer the national team. It was also a good opportunity to assess local players who have never worked with me before and who have had good seasons with their clubs,” he added.
The June camp was also expected to give Put a closer look at a number of locally based players who have impressed in domestic competitions. With the matches cancelled, the coach misses an important opportunity to evaluate them against international opposition.
Uganda had already assembled its full squad in Morocco before the decision was communicated, leaving the team with little choice but to abandon the camp and begin arrangements for players and officials to return to their clubs.
Despite the disappointment, Put said attention must now turn to finding alternative ways to prepare the team ahead of the qualifiers.
“We have to think about how we prepare the team because the qualification matches start in September. We must be ready and competitive when that time comes,” he said.
The cancellation comes at a crucial stage in Uganda’s preparations, with the Cranes looking to build momentum ahead of a busy international calendar. While the Morocco camp may have ended abruptly, Put’s immediate task will be ensuring the setback does not affect the team’s readiness for the challenges that lie ahead.
