PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — An international football friendly scheduled for early June between Trinidad and Tobago and World Cup-bound Colombia has been cancelled, officials here have said.

A statement released by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) on its Facebook page did not provide an explanation for the cancellation.

However, the statement, quoting TTFA’s General Secretary Sheldon Phillips, said Colombia has instead opted to play an African opponent.

“The TTFA regrettably advises that the June 1st Friendly International against Colombia, originally scheduled to be played in Buenos Aires, has been cancelled,” said the release.

“TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips was today advised that the Colombians will no longer play the game, but instead have opted to play an African opponent. African nation Ivory Coast is in Group C with Colombia for the World Cup.”

The cancellation has been announced following agreements reached last week for the game to be played as a warm-up in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil.

TTFA officials say they are currently making efforts to secure another match as replacement.

They have also stressed that scheduled matches against Argentina, in La Plata, on June 4, and Iran, in Sao Paolo, Brazil on June 8, are still on the cards.