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“I like his deep passion for football”: Motsepe backs Infantino despite growing criticism

African football boss Patrice Motsepe on Wednesday, 22 July offered an emphatic defence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, portraying him as a devoted steward of the game and friend of the continent.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsInfantino has faced growing criticism over FIFA’s decision to delay a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun at the recently concluded World Cup, as well as the introduction of hydration breaks and the prospect of expanding the men’s tournament to 64 teams.”I like his deep love for football, deep committment for football in the world and support for Africa,” Motsepe told journalists in Johannesburg.Harambee Starlets set to cash in big after CAF announces new WAFCON prize moneyMotsepe said the Swiss administrator “had remained loyal” to Africa and played a key role in advancing football across the continent.”Gianni has played a pivotal role in expanding opportunities for African national teams on the global stage,” he said, referring ..

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Vardy reveals shocking detail: Kante wanted to represent Mali?!

Have you ever imagined what an alternate history of football would look like if this or that had (not) happened?Regardless of your answer, here is something worth thinking about: N’Golo Kante was on the verge of representing Mali instead of France at the international level!This truly shocking detail was revealed by the midfielder’s former Leicester City teammate Jamie Vardy in his podcast, Jamie Vardy’s Having A Party.Fake prophet promised AFCON glory to Mali, but got handcuffs insteadThe ex-England international claimed Kante – although born in Paris – wanted to honour his paternal roots and represent the Eagles. However, his teammates reportedly convinced him to pledge his allegiance to Les Bleus, a more powerful team capable of challenging for trophies.“Originally, he didn’t even want to play for France. He wanted to represent Mali for his dad.” “Then France called him before Mali did. We were all at the training ground, like ‘What are you actually thinking about? They’re going to ..

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Fabian Adikiny reveals how French coach unlocked his MVP-winning season

Tusker FC midfielder Fabian Adikiny has credited head coach Julien Mette for transforming his game after being crowned the club’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) following a sensational 2025/26 campaign.The midfielder emerged as the biggest winner during Tusker’s glamorous End-of-Season Gala Awards in Nairobi after playing a pivotal role in one of the club’s most successful seasons in recent years.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsAdikiny anchored the Brewers’ midfield as they ended a decade-long wait for major silverware by lifting the FKF Mozzart Bet Cup.The triumph also secured qualification for the 2026-2027 CAF Confederation Cup.##NAJAVA_MECA_9858114##The midfielder described the MVP accolade as the reward for months of dedication and sacrifice.”It is the reward for all the hard work I put in throughout last season. It was a beautiful campaign, and I am grateful that it ended with me being named MVP. I am happy, proud of myself, and motivated to keep improving,” he told Mozza..

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What Kenya can learn from South Africa’s U17 talent development model

South Africa Women’s U17 head coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo has revealed why South Africa has a stable supply of U17 players, a lesson Kenya can learn from.The Bantwana faced Junior Starlets in the third and final qualifier of the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup with Kenya securing a 5-1 aggregate win.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsDespite the setback, South Africa has been consistent with their U17 already qualified twice to the World Cup and always reaching the advanced stages of the qualifiers.Speaking before their match against Junior Starlets, Khumalo explained why South Africa always have a strong team in all the editions.“We are lucky that we have the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) girls Academy, a FIFA program where we take some of the girls and nature them, we have a Talent Development System (TDS) program funded by FIFA as well as many school programs.We have so many development programs where we get a constant supply of talents,” she said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9858114##So..

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Millions at stake as Gor Mahia, Tusker battle regional giants in CECAFA Kagame Cup

FKF Premier League record champions Gor Mahia and Kenyan giants Tusker FC could walk home with millions of shillings from the released CECAFA Kagame Cup prize money.The two Kenyan supremos are among the top regional teams that will gather in Kigali, Rwanda for the 2026 edition of the historic cup set for Friday 24 July to Friday 7 August.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsAhead of the tournament, CECAFA have released the prize money for the championship with winners set to walk home USD30,000 (approximately Ksh3.87 million) richer.The runners up will pocket USD20,000 (approximately Ksh2.58 million) with the third placed team completing the money category with a USD10,000 (approximately Ksh1.29 million) payout.##NAJAVA_MECA_9858114##The millions on offer will form a key basis of the struggle and scramble by the 12 East African teams ahead of the new season.Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC will kickstart the tournament with a match against Djibouti’s Gade Republicaine F..

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Reward for World Cup winners – tomatoes matching their weight!

Spain rolled out the red carpet for their world champion footballers with a spectacular parade a few days ago, as millions of fans took to the streets of Madrid to chant the names of their 26 heroes.However, even such an astonishing reception cannot compare to the welcome the two La Roja midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Gavi received in their hometown, Los Palacios y Villafranca. And not only because there’s nothing better than being back among your own people, but because they were given an odd but truly heartfelt gift.”Mum, it was all worth it”: The heartbreaking story behind Fabian Ruiz’s World Cup triumphThe Andalusian town with just under 40,000 inhabitants is renowned for its tomato cultivation, with their high-quality “Bombón Colorao” (“Red Bombon”) variety regarded as one of the most highly prized in the world.Considering that Los Palacios y Villafranca is not a metropolis, the gift for its two champions was never going to be extravagant. But it was undeniably charming and, most imp..

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STARS ABROAD: Harambee Stars defenders Manzur Okwaro and Amos Wanjala feature in pre-season

Harambee Stars defenders Manzur Okwaro and Amos Wanjala featured for their respective European clubs on Wednesday, July 22, as they continued their pre-season preparations ahead of the new campaign.Okwaro played just over 45 minutes for French side Stade de Reims in a 1-1 friendly draw against fellow Ligue 2 club Amiens SC at Stade de la Licorne.##NAJAVA_MECA_6501##Coach Nicolas Usaï named a strong starting XI, but Amiens took the lead in first-half stoppage time through Albin Doucet after the two sides had looked destined to go into the break level.Seeking to give every player valuable minutes, Usaï made 11 changes at half-time, with Okwaro among those introduced in defence.Hundreds of millions await Harambee Starlets at WAFCON after CAF prize boostReims fought back in the closing stages, with Arone Gadou scoring a 90th-minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw.Okwaro will be hoping to earn more playing time and impress Usaï as he pushes for a regular place in the senior team. Harambee St..

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Hundreds of millions await Harambee Starlets at WAFCON after CAF prize boost

Millions of shillings are up for grabs for Harambee Starlets after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled a record prize fund for the 2026 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).Kenya’s national women’s team is guaranteed USD 150,000 (approximately KSh19.5 million) simply for qualifying for the 16-team tournament, with significantly bigger rewards on offer depending on how far the Starlets progress.##NAJAVA_MECA_9857679##CAF announced that it had increased the total WAFCON prize fund by 67 percent, from USD 3.475 million to USD 5.8 million, in what the governing body described as another major investment in the growth of women’s football across Africa.The biggest winners will be the tournament champions, who will pocket USD 2 million (approximately KSh258 million) after CAF doubled the winners’ prize money. The runners-up will receive USD 750,000 (KSh 98.67 million) while the third-placed team will walk home with USD 500,000 (approximately KSh64.6 million).H..

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Harambee Starlets midfielder says squad not used to new food in French camp

Harambee Starlets attacking midfielder Fasila Adhiambo says the team’s training in Miramas, France is going on smoothly, this despite the players not being used to the new food.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsAdhiambo, speaking to FKF Media on Wednesday, 22 July, was effusive of Starlets’ preparations ahead of their participation at the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, but stressed a particular hiccup on their dinner table.##NAJAVA_MECA_9857665##“Our experience here in France has been good; everyone is fighting, even though there are things we are not used to like food,” the Simba Queens player stated.While Mozzart Sport could not ascertain which food(s) Adhiambo was referring to, the publication is well aware that Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala had earlier this week visited the team in camp, bringing along a variety of Kenyan meals including: ugali and chapati.Omanyala surprises Harambee Starlets with Kenyan meals in France campIt well co..

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Arsenal eye ex-Man City defender as Saliba injury fears grow

Arsenal could be forced into a major defensive signing after confirming that William Saliba will spend an extended period on the sidelines with a back injury.The Premier League champions have already stepped up their search for reinforcements, with former Manchester City defender John Stones emerging as one of the club’s leading targets to fill the void left by the France international, The Athletic reports on Wednesday.Saliba suffered the injury during France’s 2-0 FIFA World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain, pulling up after just 30 minutes before signalling to the bench that he could not continue.Arsenal fear five-month lay-off after Saliba suffers serious back injuryFollowing further examinations in London, Arsenal confirmed that surgery will not be required, but the 25-year-old faces a lengthy rehabilitation programme.”William Saliba has returned to us from World Cup duty. Subsequent specialist reviews… have confirmed that he has suffered a back injury which will require a period ..

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