Colombia cancels friendly with Trinidad & Tobago

Port of Spain (Trinidad), April 24 (IANS/CMC) An international football friendly scheduled for early June between Trinidad and Tobago and FIFA World Cup-bound Colombia has been cancelled.

A statement released by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) on their Facebook page Wednesday did not provide an explanation for the cancellation, reports CMC.

However, the statement, quoting TTFA's General Secretary Sheldon Phillips, said Colombia has instead opted to play an African opponent.

"The TTFA regrettably advises that the June 1st Friendly International against Colombia, originally scheduled to be played in Buenos Aires, has been cancelled," said the release.

"TTFA General Secretary Sheldon Phillips was Wednesday advised that the Colombians will no longer play the game but instead have opted to play an African opponent.

The cancellation has been announced following agreements reached last week for the game to be played as a warm-up in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil.

TTFA officials say they are currently making efforts to secure another match as a replacement.

They have also stressed that scheduled matches against Argentina, in La Plata, June 4, and Iran, in Sao Paolo, Brazil June 8, are still on the cards.

African nation Ivory Coast is in Group C with Colombia for the World Cup.

--IANS/CMC

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