The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) decided on Thursday to cancel the international friendly against Kuwait that was scheduled for April 16th. The EFA were under great pressure to cancel the game that conflicts with continental and regional club competitions. “Due to grave circumstances that are facing Egyptian football in the current month, the national team will not be able to play the international friendly against Kuwait,” read a statement on the EFA's website. The statement cited the “grave circumstances” as being the unavailability of the national team's major players who play in Europe and the three major local clubs: Ahli, Zamalek and Ismaili. The Arab Union Football Association had set April 17th as a date for Zamalek's Arab Champions League semi-final game against Al-Faisali of Jordan. In addition to Zamalek's regional commitment, Ahli will face Sundowns of South Africa on the 20th and Ismaili will play Green Buffaloes of Zambia on the 21st in the African Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively. After consulting with Egypt's coach Hassan Shehata, the EFA have offered to postpone the game till June 12th. The EFA will wait to hear from their Kuwaiti counterparts.
