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National women football team Harambee Starlets players were yesterday dejected following a last minute cancelation of their international friendly build-up match against Albania.

Starlets who have been out of action for roughly one and a half years following Kenya’s suspension by world football governing body Fifa, hoped to end their drought in international football with the friendly in Tirana on April 11, but with latest developments, it means they will have to wait longer.

In a letter sent to media houses on yesterday and signed Football Kenya Federation (FKF) by the Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno, the federation said that due to logistical issues, the planned international friendly match had to be cancelled.

The team’s camp that had been in training for almost two weeks with a provisional squad of about 30 players, was then forced to come to an end.

“Football Kenya Federation in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and the Albanian Football Federation has cancelled the Harambee Starlets friendly match against Albania, which was scheduled to take place on April 11, 2023 in Tirana.” read part of the letter that was dated April 5.

It is, however, believed that the government through the Ministry of Sports could not foot for the air tickets and other logistics for the trip to the Eastern Europe country.

“This painful decision has been arrived at due to logistical challenges that have made it impossible to travel and arrive in Albania on or before April 11, 2023, despite concerted efforts by all concerned,” the letter from the federation continued.

This now means that the camp will have to be cut short and the players return back to their respective clubs.

FKF has however promised to find a suitable country to play against in the next FIFA window.