Jamaica FA explains cancellation of Falcons friendly

The Jamaica Football Federation has broken its silence over the cancellation of the planned international friendly between the Reggae Girlz and Nigeria’s Super Falcons, attributing the decision to administrative and FIFA compliance issues.

In an official statement, the federation said the fixture, which had been scheduled to take place in England, was called off to ensure all logistical and procedural arrangements met the required international benchmarks.

“The Jamaica Football Federation has reaffirmed its commitment to FIFA compliance and transparency following recent reports surrounding the proposed fixture involving the Reggae Girlz and Nigeria,” the statement read.

“Contrary to reports suggesting that the fixture was cancelled due to ‘administrative issues’ on the part of Jamaica, the facts are as follows.”

The JFF explained that the proposed dates for the match were May 27, 28 or 30, 2026, but noted that the dates fell outside the official FIFA Women’s International Window scheduled for June 1 to June 9, 2026.

It stated, “As a result, clubs would not have been obligated under FIFA regulations to release players for international duty during the proposed period.”

The federation added that the matter had been communicated clearly to organisers from the beginning, while discussions continued in the hope of reaching a suitable arrangement.

The match had generated considerable excitement as a potential high-quality test between two of the most respected women’s national teams from Africa and the Caribbean.

Following the cancellation, the Super Falcons are expected to explore alternative warm-up fixtures as they continue preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

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