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Tanzania might have secured an U20 Africa Cup of Nations ticket, but for Yanga fan favourite Abdulnassir ‘Casemiro’ Mohamed, the job is only halfway done.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe central midfielder was at the heart of the Ngorongoro Heroes’ 2-0 semifinal victory over Burundi on Tuesday, a result that booked Tanzania’s place in Thursday’s final against Sudan and confirmed their qualification for the 2027 U20 Africa Cup of Nations.Kakamega Homeboyz youngster unruffled despite 3 separate national team snubsCasemiro, who has emerged as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Tanzanian football, has quickly become a favourite among Yanga supporters. There is growing belief around the club that the youngster can make the central midfield position his for years to come.But Tuesday’s semifinal showed him that the slot would not come easily.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978709##“We thank God for the results. This was an important match because we wanted to qualify for AFCON and we..

As honest as it gets. Tijjani Reijnders has openly admitted that money was a major reason behind his decision to swap the Premier League for Saudi Arabia – and he has absolutely no regrets about it.”Me a money grabber? I can’t deny that,” the former Manchester City midfielder told NOS.”Once my playing career is over, I don’t want to have to work anymore.”##LINKED_NEWS_68079##The Netherlands international left City after just one season, completing a £52 million move to Al-Qadsiah after arriving from AC Milan for £46.5m.But while Reijnders initially spoke about Al-Qadsiah’s ambition to become the “biggest in Asia”, he has now offered a considerably more straightforward explanation.The 28-year-old is reportedly set to earn around £86m over the course of his multi-year contract, money he says will secure not only his own future, but that of generations of his family.##LINKED_NEWS_46971##”Of course, I probably wouldn’t have needed to work anymore after my contract at Manchester City either..

There was a time when playing rugby was less about what was in your pocket and more about what was on your chest.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe jersey and the badge meant something. Players turned up because they belonged to a club, because their teammates were family and because representing that community carried a sense of pride that money could not easily buy.Raphael Nzomo remembers those days.More than four decades after he first played rugby, the former Kenya Harlequin player still speaks about the game with the enthusiasm of someone who never really left it behind.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980515##But the rugby he sees today is changing.The rise of financially backed clubs and the gradual shift towards semi-professionalism have created opportunities for players to earn from the sport. At the same time, however, Nzomo believes the transformation is widening the gap between corporate-backed teams and community clubs.“The community clubs are suffering because of the new cult ..

AFC Leopards chairman Bonface Ambani has called for an immediate promotion/relegation playoff between Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United, arguing that compromise from all parties could provide a way out of the prolonged standoff holding up the FKF Premier League.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAmbani believes the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Sharks and Mombasa United must put aside their differences and find a workable solution that would allow the playoff to be played without creating another dispute over player eligibility.Harambee Stars secure friendly to make it 3 matches in 9 daysUnder the rules at the centre of the dispute, the playoff would ordinarily involve the squads that represented the two clubs at the end of the 2025/26 season. However, Ambani points out that Mombasa United have since undergone significant changes to their squad after releasing a number of players whose contracts expired and recruiting new ones ahead of the new campaign.##NAJAVA_MECA_9980..

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..