Kampala, Jun 15 (IANS): The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has blocked an international friendly between Uganda and Kazakhstan.

"Our national team was meant to travel today to Kazakhstan, but FIFA has called off the match because they think our players will not rest enough after playing a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Botswana on Saturday," Edgar Watson, the Uganda FA CEO, told Xinhua on Sunday.

The Kazakhstan FA had invited Uganda for a friendly match to take place on June 17 at the Astana Arena.

Watson said FIFA called it off because of the new rule which cannot allow a team to travel for a trip that will last over five hours and play a game less than 48 hours after their last encounter.

"It is sad the match is put off, but we need to respect these new rules," said Watson.

The Ugandan team was set to travel to use the game as a build-up before they face Tanzania on June 20 in a 2016 Africa Nations Championship qualifier.