Sudan angry after Kenya cancels friendly soccer match

Sudan Football Association has accused Kenya of mischief after Wednesday’s aborted friendly match in Khartoum. The Association’s Secretary General Shimans Eldin Magdi claims Kenya had agreed in writing to play the build up in El Fasher situated in Darfur and laid the blame on Harambee Stars’ players for calling off the fixture.Magdi has exclusively revealed to Goal that Kenya FA was aware of El Fasher venue right from the word go. He also confirmed that they (Sudan FA) spent a whooping US85,000 (approximately Sh7.3 million) towards the friendly.”We wrote letters informing them (Kenya FA) of the venue and they replied confirming they had agreed. We are therefore, surprised that the players refused to travel to honour the friendly.”Magdi further said they were ready to charter a plane for Harambee Stars’ from El Fasher to Nairobi directly after the match. He further revealed that they will seek Fifa intervention to have Kenya punished for what transpired.“We will lodge complain to Fifa to intervene in this matter which has certainly created bad blood between the two associations. We are saddened that Kenya decided to walk away despite our efforts to spend such a huge sum of money to bring the squad to Khartoum.”On Wednesday, while confirming that Kenya was withdrawing Harambee Stars’ from playing in the friendly, Kenya FA President Sam Nyamweya said they will make sure that organizers’ of the friendly are held accountable.“FKF will demand that the organisers are held accountable for this botch-up and that Fifa takes action against those responsible. We have incurred expenses that we will be demanding that requisite compensation be considered and the match be awarded to us since we turned up for the match only for it not be.”File photo: Sudan vs Zambia in CECAFA 2013