Football

APS Bomet FC will mark their top-tier debut against Shabana FC on September 21, beginning their journey in the Premier League under the guidance of this diverse and ambitious board.

Striker Emily Moranga opened the scoring before Ugandan forward Zaina Namileme doubled the lead, ensuring the Kenyan champions claimed their second straight win in Group A.

The quartet, led by centre referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan and assisted by Mahad Ali Mohamud Jantalman and Hamza Hagi Abdi, with Kaafi Shiine as fourth official, managed the high-pressure encounter at Stade des Martyrs in front of 80,000 spectators.

McCarthy admitted there was pressure heading into the clash, but praised his players for bouncing back strongly.

Goals from Ryan Wesley Ogam, Collins Sichenje, and captain Michael Olunga highlighted a convincing display that underlined Kenya’s attacking depth and aerial dominance.

According to Simba SC, all ticket categories—from Tanzanite and Platinum to VIP A, VIP B, VIP C, and the Mzunguko stands—were sold out by September 8, two days before kickoff.

Deputy captain Aboud Omar has been suspended just a day before the fixture, a decision McCarthy said was necessary to preserve discipline within the squad.

In a statement on Sunday, FKF announced that Gold category tickets for the September 9 match, set for 4:00 pm, will now cost Sh500 instead of the original Sh1,000.

With the win, Kampala Queens move up to second place in Group A on three points, level with leaders Kenya Police Bullets, who still have a game in hand.

This will be the Atlas Lions’ third consecutive World Cup appearance and their seventh overall since first featuring on the global stage.

Reigning Rwanda Premier League champions APR FC eased past Zanzibar’s Mlandege FC with a 2-0 victory.

The Gambia coach downplayed the impact of altitude on his side’s performance, saying they deliberately managed training intensity and relied on their strong bench to maintain control.

The coach highlighted the gulf in experience, noting that every Gambian outfield player is Europe-based, while Stars still field a mix of foreign and local talent.

Anything less than three points would end their campaign with two rounds still to play.

According to Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, the changes would prevent Moroccan courts from being overwhelmed by cases during the global sporting event.

The Thika-based outfit’s mass exodus is the second highest in Kenyan top-flight history, only behind Sofapaka’s 23-player release in June 2016.

Kenya Police Bullets entered the clash in a confident mood, buoyed by home support and weeks of intense training.

Ogam, briefly released from national team duty, stopped by the club’s Ruaraka Grounds to share a final moment with his teammates before travelling to Austria immediately after the international break.

Safaricom Chapa Dimba, launched in 2017 in partnership with the Football Kenya Federation, is a national grassroots football tournament targeting players aged 16–20.

The Bullets, who have steadily grown into one of the strongest women’s football sides in East Africa, enter this year’s qualifiers with added motivation.

Fans have been promised free entry, with CECAFA Competitions Director Yousuf Mossi urging Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to support women’s football in the region.

The match will be Gambia’s second meeting with Kenya in the qualifiers, following their 3-3 draw in March at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Under his leadership, the Stars stunned eventual champions Morocco 1-0, edged past two-time winners DR Congo and Zambia with identical scorelines, and held Angola 1-1 to finish top of Group A with 10 points.

The result leaves Kenya Police top of Group A with three points, ahead of Ethiopian Coffee and Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars, who were scheduled to meet later in the day.

McCarthy said Kenya is closely monitoring emerging talents abroad and, while admitting World Cup qualification is slim with only four games left, stressed the need to fight for every remaining point.

Ethan Henry is now rallying for votes to secure the top prize, which includes $25,000 (Sh3.2 million) and a feature in the 3BRAND campaign in Sports Illustrated, a platform that would give him international visibility.

Uganda will host the CHAN 2024 third-place playoff between Sudan and Senegal at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on Friday evening, with kickoff set for 6:00 pm.

The 32-year-old midfielder also spoke about the possibility of making a return to the national team, saying, “When the time is right, then everything happens.”

Speaking at a luncheon hosted by President William Ruto at State House after the team’s return, McCarthy said the fans made the players feel “untouchable” every time they stepped onto the pitch.

All tickets are branded NOT FOR SALE but retain the full security features of official CHAN tickets.

The regional club competition, featuring 12 teams divided into three groups of four, will run from September 2 to 15 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Kenya Police Bullets will kick off their campaign against Kampala Queens on September 4, 2025, at Nyayo Stadium, with the match set to start at 4:00 pm.

Oduor made his debut for Grimsby Town on Wednesday evening, when he was introduced in the 73rd minute against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup second round.

However, the coach chose not to address queries surrounding Austine Odhiambo, who was joint top scorer during CHAN 2024 but missed out on the call-up.

Both Morocco and Madagascar reached the knockout stages as group runners-up, each recording just one defeat, ironically to the host nations, with Morocco losing 1-0 to Kenya and Madagascar falling 2-1 to Tanzania.

McCarthy’s final squad features a mix of homegrown and foreign-based players, including debutant goalkeeper Job Ochieng and 13 members of the CHAN semifinal team.

Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF) General Charles Kahariri hailed Corporal Muchiri for his professionalism and commitment both on and off the pitch.

The works were meant to upgrade facilities ahead of the 2018 CHAN tournament, which was to be hosted by Kenya but was later moved to Morocco due to delays and concerns about preparedness.

Sonko wants the CAF Disciplinary Board Chair to halt the progression of the tournament pending a hearing and determination of the suit.

In his petition, Sonko claims match officials acted unlawfully and exhibited bias, calling for the nullification of disallowed goals, annulment of the penalty shootout, awarding the match to Kenya, or ordering a replay.

CECAFA has positioned the Kagame Cup as a vital build-up for clubs heading into the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup later in the season.

Kenya earned the hosting rights after a successful bid by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), bringing the regional competition back to the country four years after it staged the inaugural edition in 2021.

The temporary measures are expected to significantly affect motorists using Thika Road, Kiambu Road and the Northern Bypass, among other key routes.

Tanzania Government Spokesperson Gerson Musigwa urged fans not to worry, saying there are plenty of seats at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium for anyone eager to cheer the Taifa Stars.

CAF has now agreed to the increased capacity, paving the way for what is expected to be a charged atmosphere as Kenya enters the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time in 38 years.

Mirambo lauded McCarthy’s tactical adaptability and game management, especially in helping Kenya top Group A in what was dubbed the “group of death.”

Chipo, a former Harambee Stars assistant coach, took charge of the club on April 2, 2025, following the resignation of John Njogu after a 3-0 defeat to Shabana FC.

CAF limited the number of spectators to 27,000 (60 per cent) of the stadium’s capacity, due to repeated and serious security lapses at recent CHAN 2024 fixtures.

Mookh Africa says it is working on upgraded protections and will reopen ticket sales soon, promising a fairer process for genuine fans.