UGANDA Cranes' final tune-up international friendly against Senegal before their all-important group 13 Nations Cup encounter against Ghana will not take place.

Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) administrative vice-president, Godfrey Kwizera, revealed that FUFA's Senegalese counterparts had declined Uganda's request for the friendly due to pressing arrangements for their national team.

"That friendly is off. The Senegalese football body unfortunately declined our request since they had already made plans for their national squad."

FUFA had requested the Senegal Football Federation for a buildup friendly in a bid to help the Cranes prepare for their crucial qualifying encounter against Ghana this Sunday by playing against the World Cup quarter-finalists.

The clash, initially scheduled for June 20 in Dakar, was to provide the Cranes, currently in residential training, with their only competitive trial before their make-or-break qualifier in Kumasi.

The Cranes' last competitive match was the 0-1 defeat to qualification rivals Rwanda at Namboole.

"We really would have liked them to play in Senegal and acclimatise to the West African approach before they engage Ghana. But that has not been possible," said Kwizera yesterday.

Uganda Cranes whose camp has been reinforced by the inclusion of Ireland-based professional, Livingstone Mbabazi, depart on Friday in a 23-man delegation for Ghana.

Mbabazi was, however, yet to report to camp by press time yesterday.

The St. Patrick's Athletics club star, who arrived Monday morning aboard a Kenya Airways flight, was waited for but in vain as the senior team resumed training after a day-off.

FUFA has preferred the team travels on Friday since the match is set for Sunday.

Uganda leads Group 13 due to their superior goal difference and will be aiming to emulate their shock 1-0 home victory against Ghana last September to keep their smouldering hopes of qualification alive.