Okello Blasts Fufa After Third Cranes Friendly Falls Through

Football security expert Dixon Okello has urged FUFA to rethink how it arranges international friendlies after Uganda lost three scheduled matches in less than a week, disrupting preparations for future competitions.

Public order security and safety expert Dixon Okello has criticised Fufa's planning of international friendlies after Zanzibar became the latest opponent to cancel a scheduled fixture involving the Uganda Cranes.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) confirmed that the Zanzibar Football Federation (ZFF) had called off Thursday's centenary friendly at the New Amaan Complex, citing government health precautionary directives.

The cancellation came just days after Uganda's planned friendlies against Tanzania and Madagascar in Morocco were also abandoned over what organisers described as sanitary and public health considerations.

Reacting to the latest setback, Okello said the repeated cancellations were disrupting the national team's preparations and resulting in unnecessary expenditure.

"Kindly ensure your match agent verifies opponent commitment before confirming away friendlies. Morocco (after team travelled) and Zanzibar cancellations have disrupted training and wasted resources," Okello said.

"Our national team deserves professional respect in international fixtures."

He urged FUFA to develop contingency plans to ensure the Uganda Cranes remain active as they prepare for future qualification campaigns and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

"With AFCON 2027 preparation ongoing, please explore Plan B options. Consistent match time is critical for readiness," he added.

Okello had voiced similar concerns following last week's cancellations in Morocco, where the Uganda Cranes delegation had already travelled before learning that the matches would no longer take place.

"Thousands of dollars wasted. A costly lesson learned: Always work with competent, trusted match agents. Vet your agents like you vet your strikers," he said.

In another pointed remark, Okello questioned the explanation surrounding the cancelled Morocco fixtures after Madagascar subsequently played a friendly against Morocco.

"It's really funny that Madagascar played against Morocco yesterday. So what is the real reason?" he asked.

FUFA has maintained that both the Morocco and Zanzibar cancellations were communicated by the respective hosts and organisers on public health grounds.

According to the federation, restrictions imposed by local authorities in Morocco through match agents forced the cancellation of the planned friendlies against Tanzania and Madagascar, which had been scheduled for June 5 and June 8.

The Uganda delegation had already arrived at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca when the cancellations were communicated.

The latest development means the Uganda Cranes have now lost three scheduled international matches that were expected to provide valuable competitive preparation ahead of upcoming qualification campaigns and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

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