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Kenya’s Junior Starlets have been handed a challenging Group E assignment for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where they will face former finalists the United States, Asian side China PR and tournament debutants Samoa.The tournament will be staged in Morocco from 17 October to 8 November, with Kenya making their second appearance on the global stage after qualifying under head coach Mildred Cheche.##NAJAVA_MECA_9845654##The United States head into the competition as the group’s most decorated side.They finished runners-up at the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008 after losing 2-1 to North Korea in extra time and claimed the bronze medal at the 2024 tournament in the Dominican Republic with a victory over England.China PR will also pose a significant challenge after reaching the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, their best performance in the competition to date.The fourth team in the group is Samoa, who, like Kenya, will be viewed as underdogs as they..

Manchester United are in advanced talks to sign Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans in a surprise move that has quickly gathered momentum, with the Belgium international now emerging as the club’s leading midfield target.Although Tielemans is under contract until 2028, United believe they have a genuine opportunity to complete the deal. The big dogs are after the talented FoxAccording to The Athletic, discussions between the clubs and the player’s representatives are ongoing, while the 29-year-old is understood to favour a move to Old Trafford despite attracting interest from elsewhere.Villa are reluctant to lose one of their key performers, but Tielemans’ contract reportedly contains a release clause worth around £35 million, leaving the Midlands club with limited room to block the transfer if it is activated.Tielemans is a VillanUnited’s interest intensified after shelving their pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson.The Premier League giants had reached an agreement with the Ital..

The rivalry between England and Argentina, set to ignite once more on Wednesday night’s semi-final, is among the World Cup’s most captivating sagas, stretching far beyond the pitch. It carries the scars and echoes of the 1982 Falklands War, but even more so, it is defined by the legendary 1986 quarter-final, forever etched in memory for the ‘Hand of God’ and the ‘Goal of the Century’.##NAJAVA_MECA_9845654##Years later, the two sides clashed again in a high-stakes showdown, with Argentina prevailing on penalties after David Beckham was dismissed for tripping Diego Simeone. Four years on, Beckham seized his moment of redemption, calmly converting a penalty in a group-stage victory.Yet the first sparks of this enduring rivalry were struck long before those iconic encounters, back in 1966. The Three Lions edged out Argentina in a quarter-final shrouded in controversy, most notably for the sending off of Argentina’s star, Antonio Rattin. At that time, yellow and red cards did not exist, and..

South Africa U17 national team head coach ,Ntombifuthi Khumalo, has explained why she is pleased with her team despite suffering loss at the hands of Kenya.The Bantwana suffered a humiliating 3-1 loss to Kenya, despite taking a lead at half time, in a FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier match played on Sunday,12 July at the Nyayo National Stadium from 1500 hrs.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsJunior Starlets had won the first leg of the final round of the qualifiers 2-0 last week in Pretoria. Despite South Africa missing a place in the World Cup, Khumalo chose to focus on the positives from the tie.“Our journey has ended today but for the country, this is a pathway because there are girls below 15 years who will be back again and I believe these lessons will help them to grow as better players,” said Khumalo.##NAJAVA_MECA_9844488##The Bantwana team included Farah Thomas and Othandwayo Zondani who are aged 15. The duo is eligible for two more World Cup editions as well as 10..

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that world football’s governing body will examine the possibility of expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament, insisting the competition should offer every nation a realistic chance of qualifying.Speaking to Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, Infantino argued that the World Cup must represent the entire globe rather than remain dominated by Europe’s and South America’s traditional powers.”These are all issues that we will be examining after the World Cup,” Infantino said when asked about a potential 64-team tournament.”When organising a World Cup, it’s important to organise it for the whole world – not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup.”##NAJAVA_MECA_9844488####EDITORS_CHOICE##The FIFA chief believes expanding the competition would encourage football’s developing nations to keep improving.”You can see that the quali..

Shabana FC goalkeeper Stephen Ochieng has bid the club farewell ahead of his move to Tanzanian Premier League side, Pamba Jiji FC Ochieng enjoyed an outstanding campaign with the Glamour Boys, winning the FKF Premier League ‘Golden Glove’ after keeping 16 clean sheets last season.##NAJAVA_MECA_9845654##His impressive performances, during his two- yeear stay at Shabana, attracted interest from several local clubs, but he has opted for a move to Tanzania.At Pamba Jijii, he will reunite with Kenyan tactician Francis Baraza and goalkeepers’ coach John Waw, who also serves as the Kenya U17 women’s national team’s goalkeepers’ trainer.The goalkeeper announced his departure in an emotional message on social media, expressing gratitude to the Shabana faithful.”Through the highs and lows, and against the waves and tides, we stood together as a family and conquered every storm,” Ochieng wrote.Junior Starlets power past South Africa to secure second FIFA World Cup qualification”To the Shabana FC ..

Wealdstone Chairman Rory Fitzgerald says the club cannot hide its disappointment, following its decision to let go of Harambee Stars defender Deon Woodman to English League One side Bromley FC on Saturday, 11 July.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAs per Fitzerald, Woodman, 23, presented so much potential for Wealdstone, and his transfer, despite hurting, should act as a blueprint to promising talents, of the club’s ability to create great pathways.Harambee Stars defender secures move to English club”There’s no hiding our disappointment at losing a player of Deon’s promise,” Fitzgerald, who joined Wealdstone’s board of directors in December 2017, said in a statement attached to Woodman’s move to Bromley on an undisclosed fee. “But I’m just as keen to see this as a reminder to our players, supporters and us as a Board that we’re able to create great pathways for young, aspiring talent.”Woodman, who made his Harambee Stars debut on 7 June against Lesotho, had been a Wealdstone ..

Kenya Sevens and Daystar Falcons speedster Patrick Odongo says fans may not see much of him during the upcoming National Sevens Circuit. Odongo has barely had a break over the past year, featuring in multiple competitions both locally and abroad.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsThe explosive winger was instrumental in helping the Falcons finish eighth in their debut Kenya Cup campaign with 21 points, establishing himself as one of the team’s standout performers.He then featured for Kenya Sevens throughout the HSBC SVNS 2 campaign. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9844488##Odongo represented Shujaa from the opening tournament in Nairobi before travelling with the team to Montevideo, Uruguay and later Brazil.He was also part of the Kenyan squad during the HSBC World Championship series, turning out for Shujaa in Hong Kong before the team headed to Spain and France.No sooner had his national team duties ended than Odongo was off to India for the second edition of the Rugby Premier League, where h..

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has fulfilled his promise to reward Kenya’s Junior Starlets after their historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, handing the team a cash reward of Ksh1 million following their victory over South Africa.Sonko joined thousands of fans at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday as the Mildred Cheche-coached side completed a dominant 3-1 victory over South Africa, sealing a commanding 5-1 aggregate triumph to secure consecutive appearances at the global showpiece.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsMoments after the final whistle, the former Nairobi governor met the jubilant players and technical bench before officially presenting the reward he had pledged should the team qualify for the World Cup.Confirming the gesture in a statement shared on his social media pages, Sonko congratulated the youngsters for making history and hailed the collective support that propelled them to qualification.”Today, I joined fellow Kenyans in celeb..

Enough is enough!The Italy national team has never been accustomed to consecutive failures, and after missing three World Cups in a row, the situation around the Azzurri is as alarming as it gets. Something has to change, and it has to be done as soon as possible.Manager Gennaro Gattuso has left, and the identity of his successor is still a burning question.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini have recently emerged as the favourites to take on a massive challenge, with Serie A clubs – who don’t have the right to vote for the new manager, but whose opinion is respected – even offering financial help to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to hire Conte.However, the new national team technical director, Paolo Maldini, apparently has different plans and much higher ambitions. The Italian football and AC Milan legend is keen on a modern strategist, someone who is neither Conte nor Mancini.According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Maldini wants to see Pep Guardiola in the Azzur..