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World Cup Round One Review: African teams deliver shock results, drama and early signals

Across the opening fixtures, Africa’s representatives showed three clear trends: Strong results against elite opposition (Morocco, DR Congo, Egypt, Cape Verde); competitive wins from “mid-tier” African sides (Ghana and Ivory Coast); and a few struggles for some teams adjusting to high-intensity European opposition (South Africa, Tunisia and Senegal)Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsStandout African performances##NAJAVA_MECA_9807391##Morocco 1–1 BrazilMorocco produced one of the results of the round, holding Brazil to a draw in a high-pressure Group C clash. This reinforces their growing reputation after recent tournaments as a tactically disciplined and hard-to-break side capable of matching global heavyweights like the record tournament champions.DR Congo 1–1 PortugalDR Congo’s return to the World Cup has been immediately validated. A draw against Portugal shows defensive organization, composure under pressure, and the ability to punish elite sides on the counterattack.Afric..

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Mozzart Bet Cup 2026 recap that delivered relentless drama, first final outside Nairobi and giant slayers

When Tusker captain Charles Momanyi finally hoisted the shimmering Mozzart Bet Cup trophy under the balmy Kwale evening sky, it marked more than the conclusion of a fiercely contested cup competition.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsIt was the culmination of six months of relentless drama, dreams, heartbreak, and an opportunity that once again reminded Kenyan football why knockout competitions remain special.From little-known community clubs toppling giants, to school-going players testing themselves against Premier League opposition, from emotional tributes to fallen teammates to breakout stars announcing themselves on the national stage, and ultimately a coveted ticket to continental football, the 2026 Mozzart Bet Cup delivered nearly every storyline football fans could have hoped for.Fittingly, it all unfolded in the maiden edition staged under FKF and Mozzart Bet’s enhanced Ksh 90 million sponsorship package, a Ksh30 million increase from the previous deal that elevated ..

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Algeria lodge an official complaint over Messi’s tackle

With a magical performance in Argentina’s World Cup opener, Lionel Messi amazed the entire world. Everyone except the Algerians, who were left with a bitter sense of injustice after the captain of the world champions knocked them out with a hat-trick. As a result, the North African nation officially sent a letter to FIFA’s Referees Committee expressing dissatisfaction with the officiating in the Group J clash against the defending champions, focusing in particular on one incident — that Messi foul. Just three days after scoring the first hat-trick of the tournament, Messi is once again at the center of attention, though this time not because of his brilliance. According to the Algerian camp, he should have been punished for a challenge they viewed as reckless and potentially dangerous. The African side lodged a formal protest, frustrated that Argentina’s captain escaped without even a booking.No hay forma de que esto no sea roja.Hasta el propio Messi se dio cuenta de la macana que se m..

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AFC Leopards fete outstanding players in end-of-season Awards Gala

Kenyan giants AFC Leopards held their 2025/26 end-of-season Awards Gala on Friday, 19 June at a Nairobi hotel, where various winners were feted for their exemplary contributions in the recently concluded season.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsIngwe posted a marked improvement to their season, where they gave league champions Gor Mahia a run for their money by being their main challengers, but in the end finished runners-up, an upturn from the sixth-place achieved in the previous campaign.How Omole balanced Mozzart Bet Cup final preps with life as a prospective fatherLeopards also finished the season with 64 points, 13 more than what they amassed in the 2024/25 campaign, while also giving their fans the joy of winning the first leg of the Mashemeji Derby against arch-rivals Gor Mahia.During the Gala, Tyson Otieno was the biggest winner after he was named the team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).##NAJAVA_MECA_9807373##Tyson was a phenomenon for Ingwe after joining the club at th..

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Too harsh or not, yet Almiron becomes the first victim of ‘Prestianni’s law’

Miguel Almiron has become the first footballer in World Cup history to be sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent, in a controversial incident that is already sparking fierce debate across the game.The Paraguay captain and the former Newcastle United forward saw red during his country’s Group H clash with Turkey in San Francisco after briefly shielding his mouth with his hand while exchanging words with defender Mert Muldur.Miguel Almiron becomes the first player to be shown a red card under the new rules after covering his mouth during a confrontational incident.pic.twitter.com/n8e0b2N4cA— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) June 20, 2026 What might once have passed unnoticed instead became a landmark moment in football’s newest attempt to tackle offensive language and hidden verbal abuse on the pitch.The incident occurred shortly before half-time with Paraguay leading 1-0. Muldur immediately alerted nearby officials, prompting a VAR review. After examining the footage, refere..

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Omanyala laments about astonishingly low prize money for national championship gold winners

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has called for a rethink in how Kenyan athletes are supported, revealing that winners at the Athletics Kenya National Championships receive just Ksh20,000 for a gold medal.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsSpeaking after winning his men’s 100m semifinal at the Athletics Kenya National Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials on Friday, 19 June, at the Nyayo National Stadium, Omanyala urged both the government and the private sector to invest more directly in athletes to help them prepare for major international competitions.Omanyala reveals his source of confidence after impressive start to seasonHis remarks come at a time when Athletics Kenya continues to attract corporate backing, with KCB Bank recently committing Ksh10 million towards the staging of the 2026 Commonwealth Games Athletics National Trials.While acknowledging the importance of such sponsorships, the African record holder argued that many athletes do not directly ben..

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Where is he now? Former Kibera tennis star who made Davis Cup history

As Kenya welcomed the 2026 Davis Cup tournament this week, one of the country’s most trailblazing tennis figures was among those receiving recognition for his contribution to the sport.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsJamin Luvembe Esikumo, widely regarded as the first player from Kibera to represent Kenya at the Davis Cup, was honoured for his dedication to tennis more than a decade after he made history on the continental stage.Luvembe’s story remains one of perseverance, talent, and determination. From Nairobi’s Kibera informal settlement, he defied the odds to become a national team player and inspire a generation of young tennis enthusiasts from underprivileged backgrounds.Why Mozzart Bet Cup MVP left Sofapaka without making a single appearanceHis crowning moment came in 2013 when he was selected to represent Kenya at the Davis Cup Africa Zone Group III tournament in Cairo, Egypt. The achievement made him the first player from Kibera to wear the national colours at the ..

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How Omole balanced Mozzart Bet Cup final preps with life as a prospective father

Tusker FC forward Thomas Omole has opened up on the challenges of balancing football commitments with preparing for one of the biggest moments of his life: becoming a father for the first time.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe right winger, who is expecting his first child, revealed that the journey has brought new responsibilities and adjustments as he continues to pursue success on the pitch.Omole first shared the exciting news publicly on Sunday, 10 May, when he scored in Tusker’s league clash against Bidco United and celebrated by placing the ball under his shirt, a gesture that signalled he and his partner were expecting a baby.Bandari FC captain Andrew Juma opens up on darkest moments during injury rehabilitationSince then, the forward has been juggling preparations for fatherhood while remaining focused on helping the Brewers compete on multiple fronts, including their successful Mozzart Bet Cup campaign.Omole played a role in Tusker’s historic cup triumph as the B..

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Ten-man Paraguay dump out profligate Turkey in San Francisco thriller

Paraguay secured one of its biggest wins in World Cup history after seeing off Turkey 1-0 at the San Francisco Stadium in USA, this despite playing with 10 men for majority of the game, after Miguel Almiron had been given a red card for covering his mouth in a confrontation.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsParaguay, days removed from a 4-1 thrashing to USA last weekend, had the finest starts this year’s World Cup has seen, after going ahead inside 65 seconds, and engineering one of the greatest escapes to dump the much-fancied Turkey out of the competition.It was a dream start for Gustavo Alfaro’s men as they snatched the record for scoring the fastest goal in this year’s World Cup from Morocco’s Ismael Saibari, when Matias Galarza let loose a cannon from 25 yards to catch out Turkey goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, a goal that turned around the contest to a full-bloodies, high octane clash at the Bay Area.Saibari’s early stunner lifts Morocco closer to World Cup knockoutsCarrying t..

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Cunha double ignites Brazil party as Haiti bid World Cup goodbye

After their slight hiccup against Morocco, Brazil got their 2026 FIFA World Cup party officially started with a comfortable 3-0 win over Haiti at Philadelphia on early Saturday morning.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsBilled as the typical gimme, the World Cup winningest team put any lingering doubts to one corner as they swept tiny Haiti aside, making them the first nation to be officially booted out of the extravaganza.Saibari’s early stunner lifts Morocco closer to World Cup knockoutsIn a stadium full of yellow, Carlo Ancelotti’s side lived up to the hype courtesy of three first-half goals from Manchester United star Matheus Cunha and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, placing them top of Group C, and virtually into the knockout stages of the World Cup.After seeing Raphinha twice denied goals by the offside flag, Selecao got into the lead in the 23rd minute, when Cunha was the beneficiary of an innocuous clearance from Hannes Delcroix, the ball bouncing off the striker to tric..

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