Kylian Mbappe could have been a Liverpool superstar. His mum certainly wanted it.The Real Madrid and France forward has revealed just how close he came to joining Liverpool as an 18-year-old Monaco wonderkid, and how his mother fell in love with Anfield before the deal eventually slipped away.Liverpool went all in for Mbappe in 2016, with then-manager Jurgen Klopp even arranging a private jet to take the teenager and his family to France for talks. ##LINKED_NEWS_69224##But there was one problem: Kylian had already made up his mind about where he wanted his future to be.”I was close to [joining] Liverpool,” Mbappe told The Athletic. “The favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there.”I didn’t listen because I wanted to play in my city, Paris. I didn’t want to leave my country before I was someone.”His mother, however, was doing everything she could to convince him otherwise.19.00: (1.85) Azerbaijan (3.40) Tajikistan (4.10) She travelled to Liverpool for the e..

Former Gor Mahia attacking midfielder Chris Pius Akena has completed his move to Spanish side Zamora CF, marking another chapter in the Ugandan midfielder’s increasingly international career.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAkena, who is capable of operating as an attacking midfielder or on the right wing, has joined Zamora for the 2026/27 campaign. Harambee Stars secure friendly to make it 3 matches in 9 daysCurrent Spanish football records list him with Zamora CF B, where he has already made an appearance this season, featuring for 22 minutes.The move takes the 25-year-old back to Spain after his previous stint with Unión Deportiva Las Zocas, further extending his experience in European football.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980516##Akena began his senior career in Uganda with Maroons FC after coming through the club’s academy. He later moved abroad, joining UAE outfit Shabab Al Ahli, where he featured at youth level and won both the UAE U21 Pro League and UAE youth league titles.He subs..

Roma icon Francesco Totti has revealed that he rejected opportunities to make a remarkable return to Serie A at the age of 48, including an approach from Como boss Cesc Fabregas.The revelation comes in Totti’s autobiography, Oltre (Beyond), published on Tuesday. The former Italy international also explains that he turned down Genoa because representing another Italian club would have felt like a betrayal of Roma.”I said no to Serie A. I said no to Genoa. I said no to Como. I was 48 years old. The coach of Genoa was Alberto Gilardino, a world champion like me with Italy in 2006, while on the Como bench was already Cesc Fabregas, one of the greats in the history of football,” he writes in the book, recalling an episode from around two years ago.🗣️ Totti: ‘Genoa and Como really wanted me when I was 48. I started training again like a professional and my body was responding well, I was slower but your foot does not grow old. I was ready to return to the pitch, but I could not betray Roma: ..

Harambee Starlets captain Mwanalima Adam Jereko became only the third Kenyan to feature in the UEFA Women’s Champions League after starting for HB Køge against Arsenal on Tuesday night.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsJereko lined up for the Danish side in their opening league-phase fixture at Meadow Park, where HB Køge pushed Arsenal all the way before suffering a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a stoppage-time penalty.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978907##The 29-year-old Kenyan was named in HB Køge’s starting XI and played for 80 minutes before being substituted as the visitors continued to frustrate the two-time European champions.Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to break down a well-organised HB Køge defense. The hosts thought they had taken the lead earlier in the match, only for the goal to be ruled out following a VAR review for offside.With the game heading towards a draw, Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time after Selina Cerci was brought down insid..

Four Kenyan referees have been appointed to officiate the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Egypt and Angola on Friday, 25 September, in Cairo, Egypt.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe match at Cairo International Stadium, scheduled for 10 pm (EAT), will be the opening fixture of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign for both teams.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978907##Experienced referee Peter Waweru Kamaku has been appointed as the centre referee, with Stephen Yiembe serving as the first assistant referee and Gilbert Cheruiyot as the second assistant referee. Dickens Mimisa will be the fourth official.The four officials have established themselves on the continental scene, having handled matches in major CAF competitions, including the AFCON, CHAN, CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.Tusker chairman reveals the club’s new home ground for 2026-2027 seasonYiembe recently added another major assignment to his growing profile when he was part of the officiating team for ..

Former ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has called on all parties involved in the ongoing disputes in Kenyan football to urgently withdraw their cases from court and seek alternative ways of resolving their differences.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsOwalo, who spoke during a press conference on Tuesday, 22 September, said the continued wrangling within Kenyan football is damaging the game at a time when the country is preparing to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.He particularly raised concern over the uncertainty surrounding the FKF Premier League kick-off, which has been affected by a series of legal battles and court injunctions, with the new season yet to commence.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978907##“With the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ahead of us, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania, sadly, the state of Kenyan football remains wanting due to the infighting within the Football Kenya Federation. The league is being held hostage b..

The Kenya senior men’s national football team will face Rwanda in an international friendly on Monday, 5 October, adding a third assignment to Harambee Stars’ schedule during the current FIFA international window.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe friendly follows Kenya’s two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches, with Benni McCarthy’s side set to host Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, 26 September, before travelling to face Guinea on Thursday, 1 October.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978907##The Rwanda friendly will give McCarthy another chance to assess his squad as he continues preparations for the AFCON campaign, with the match set to be played at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.Rwanda will also have two AFCON qualifiers before meeting Kenya. The Amavubi will host Liberia in Kigali on Friday, 25 September, before travelling to face 2026 FIFA World Cup debutants Cape Verde. The clash against Kenya will then serve as their final assignment of the three-week FIFA i..

Atletico Madrid have won the latest Derbi Madrileno, but two days on, nobody is talking about the players, goals, or managers. Okay, one manager is in the spotlight, as are the referees.And so, a new media war seems to have started – this time between the two powerhouses in the Spanish capital.Everything started shortly after the final whistle, when Jose Mourinho arrived at the post-match press conference with two pieces of paper showing two controversial incidents printed on them – Alex Baena and Lee Kang-in’s reckless tackles, which Real Madrid believed should have resulted in red cards but didn’t.Mou’s show at the presser – brought photos, blasted the refereesInstead, Los Blancos’ Dean Huijsen was (rightly) sent off, with his dismissal also resulting in a penalty, that being the key moment of the derby.On top of everything, the latest reports suggest Federico Valverde suffered a relatively serious ankle injury following Lee’s challenge and could be out for around a month or even lon..

Ten days ago, Edouard Mendy announced his retirement from the Senegal national team, thus following in the footsteps of Sadio Mane, who had done the same after the 2026 World Cup.In an interview with The Guardian, the former Chelsea goalkeeper touched on a difficult decision he had made, but also on the much-discussed and controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, which Senegal won on the pitch, beating hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time, only to lose the title two months later on administrative grounds – being stripped of it and handed a 3-0 defeat by an official CAF ruling.But first – the retirement.Another Senegal legend calls it a day: Mendy announces international retirementThe departure of the two icons is undoubtedly the end of an era for the Lions of Teranga, but life goes on. Patrick Vieira was appointed as the new head coach, sparking optimism and excitement among Senegalese fans.Even Mendy was uncertain of his decision to call time on his national team career when the l..