KBC Channel 1

Author: Bernard Okumu

  • Tusker step in as Al Merreikh bow out of Kagame Cup

    Tusker step in as Al Merreikh bow out of Kagame Cup

    Tusker FC have been handed a place in the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup, stepping in for Sudanese giants Al Merreikh SC after the North African side withdrew from the tournament.

    The Mozzart Bet Cup champions’ invitation comes as a fitting continuation of a season that has already delivered silverware, with Tusker lifting the domestic cup last month.

    Al Merreikh’s withdrawal was attributed to a delayed conclusion to their domestic season, which left them unable to commit to the CECAFA fixture list.

    The Brewers now join eleven other sides from across the region for the 2026 edition of the prestigious regional tournament, which will run from July 24 to August 7 in Kigali, Rwanda. The 12-team format promises a competitive field drawn from across the CECAFA zone, giving Tusker a valuable opportunity for continental exposure ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup campaign later in the year.

    The call-up also revives memories of a competition Tusker once dominated. The Brewers, playing as Kenya Breweries at the time, won back-to-back titles in 1988 and 1989, before further triumphs in 2000 and 2001.

    Their most recent conquest came in 2008, when they beat Uganda Revenue Authority 2-1 in the final in Dar es Salaam to lift their fifth Kagame Cup crown, a haul that puts them among the tournament’s most successful clubs alongside the likes of Simba SC and Young Africans.

    Notably, Tusker remain the last Kenyan side to have won the competition, meaning this year’s entry gives them a shot at ending an 18-year wait to reclaim regional bragging rights, with fellow Kenyan giant Gor Mahia also confirmed for this year’s edition.

    The Kagame Cup call-up adds another fixture to what is already shaping up to be a busy period for the Brewers, who are simultaneously preparing for their return to CAF continental football after securing qualification through their Mozzart Bet Cup triumph over Kenya Police FC.

    The club’s technical bench, led by coach Julien Mette, will need to carefully manage player workload and squad rotation as they balance participation in Kigali with preparations for the Confederation Cup preliminary rounds in September.

    For Tusker, the timing could not be better. Having ended their season on a high after a disappointing ninth-place league finish, the Kagame Cup offers another chance to build momentum, test the squad against regional opposition, and carry their newfound winning mentality into the new campaign, while chasing a piece of history they once made their own.

  • Déjà Vu for the Atlas Lions: France strike twice to end Morocco’s run

    France dealt Morocco a bitter sense of déjà vu on Thursday, beating them 2-0 in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal in Boston, the exact same scoreline by which Les Bleus eliminated the Atlas Lions in the 2022 semifinal in Qatar.

    Kylian Mbappé, once again the central figure in French success, had a goal and an assist after seeing a first-half penalty saved, while Ousmane Dembélé added the second.

    Mbappé broke the deadlock on the hour mark with a curling finish into the far corner, his eighth goal of the tournament. Six minutes later, he turned provider, teeing up Dembélé to seal the win.

    The result continues the pattern of France repeatedly ending Morocco’s World Cup dreams, even if this time the ceiling was lower, a quarterfinal exit rather than the historic semifinal run Morocco enjoyed in Qatar four years ago, when they became the first African and Arab nation to reach that stage.

    Despite the outcome, Morocco’s campaign was again one to be proud of, having avoided defeat against Brazil and edged past the Netherlands on penalties en route to the last eight, evidence of the continued progress the Atlas Lions have made since their historic 2022 run.

    For France, the win extends their remarkable knockout-stage momentum under Didier Deschamps, setting up a semifinal meeting with the winner of Spain and Belgium, as Les Bleus continue their pursuit of a third consecutive World Cup final appearance, a feat last achieved by Brazil in 2002.

  • Rematch of 2022: France face Morocco for World Cup semi-final spot

    Rematch of 2022: France face Morocco for World Cup semi-final spot

    France and Morocco meet again on the world’s biggest stage on Thursday, renewing a rivalry forged four years ago as the two sides clash in the opening quarterfinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Foxborough Stadium, outside Boston.

    The meeting is the seventh between the two nations, but only the second at this stage of a World Cup. The first came in 2022, when France ended Morocco’s remarkable run to the last four with a 2-0 win in the semifinals, before going on to lose the final to Argentina. Of their six previous meetings, France has won four, with Morocco managing just one victory.

    Four years on, the context has shifted. Morocco are no longer the surprise package they were in Qatar — coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his side is no longer a surprise and takes pride in that, believing this is only the beginning of a sustained run. The Atlas Lions arrive off a comfortable group stage and a 3-0 round-of-16 win over co-hosts Canada, with Achraf Hakimi and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou anchoring a defence built to frustrate.

    France, meanwhile, have been the tournament’s most dominant side, cruising through the group stage with wins over Senegal, Iraq, Norway and Sweden before grinding past a stubborn Paraguay on a late penalty in the round of 16. Kylian Mbappé has already scored seven goals and sits level atop the Golden Boot standings, while Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembélé adds further attacking firepower after a hat-trick against Norway.

     

    Ouahbi has downplayed talk of revenge, insisting his side’s motivation is simply to advance as far as possible and make their supporters proud. Still, few matchups carry the emotional weight of this one — a chance for Morocco to avenge their most painful defeat, and for France to prove their command of this tournament by beating the same opponent that once threatened to make history.

  • Gout Gout Out for Season After Hamstring Tear, Misses World U20s

    Gout Gout Out for Season After Hamstring Tear, Misses World U20s

    Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout will miss next month’s World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene after suffering a serious hamstring tear, ending his 2026 season and derailing his bid to become 200m U20 world champion.

    The 18-year-old revealed on Instagram that he injured his left hamstring during training in Brisbane, with an MRI confirming a grade-three tear affecting over 8cm of the hamstring, including partial disruption of the tendon. Gout said he was disappointed but had no choice but to accept the setback, adding that his focus now shifts to rehabilitation and returning stronger in 2027.

    The injury caps a remarkable rise for the teenager, who first drew global attention with a silver medal in the 200m at the 2024 World U20 Championships, clocking 20.60 seconds as a 16-year-old behind South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza. He built on that breakthrough in April, smashing the U20 200m world record at the Australian Championships in Sydney with a time of 19.67 seconds — quicker than Usain Bolt’s mark at the same age in 2004 — a performance later ratified by World Athletics despite scrutiny over the timing.

    Gout made his senior Diamond League debut in the 200m last month, finishing sixth in 20.60 seconds, unable to replicate his national record pace against senior competition. He also placed third in the rarely run 150m at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting, clocking 14.96 seconds.

    Gout had already opted to skip this month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to prioritise his U20 title defence in Eugene, a decision now overtaken by injury. Australia’s Commonwealth Games sprint effort will instead be led by Eddie Nketia, competing in green and gold for the first time after switching allegiance from New Zealand.

     

    For Gout, long tipped as the athlete to emulate Bolt’s legacy, the injury marks his first major setback — and a test of patience before what he hopes will be a stronger comeback in 2027.

  • Simiyu’s stunning season sets stage for Tusker’s Gala Awards night

    Simiyu’s stunning season sets stage for Tusker’s Gala Awards night

    Ian Simiyu’s breakout campaign looks set to dominate the conversation when Tusker FC gather for their annual Gala Awards, an event that arrives on the back of silverware and ahead of one of the club’s busiest transfer windows in years.

    The midfielder was the standout performer of Tusker’s Mozzart Bet Cup triumph over Kenya Police, scoring both goals in the 2-1 final win and walking away with the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Midfielder of the Tournament, and Man of the Match honours in one afternoon.

    Across the Cup run alone, he contributed three goals and two assists, then added five more in the league to finish the season with eight goals in all competitions, one clear of forward Eric Kapaito’s tally of seven. That form makes Simiyu the clear favourite for Midfielder of the Season and a genuine contender for the club’s overall MVP award, alongside other categories including Goalkeeper, Defender, and Striker of the Season.

    Kapaito, for his part, remains the frontrunner for Striker of the Season after leading the Brewers’ scoring charts with six league goals and one in the FKF Cup.

    The gala itself follows directly from the Mozzart Bet Cup final win over Kenya Police, a result that not only delivered silverware but secured Tusker’s place in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup — raising the stakes for the recruitment work already under way.

    That work has been extensive. The club is bracing for one of its biggest squad overhauls in recent memory, with as many as 15 players potentially departing to make room for a comparable number of incomings.

    The rebuild has already produced its first major signing in Nigerian striker Victor Chukwuemeka Mbaoma, the reigning Nigeria Premier Football League top scorer, brought in specifically to strengthen the attack for continental football.

    At the same time, Tusker have moved to lock down experience at the back, handing one-year extensions to defenders Tom Teka Omenda and Francis Oduor.

  • Afraha Stadium upgrade gathers pace as Kenya preps for AFCON 2027

    Afraha Stadium upgrade gathers pace as Kenya preps for AFCON 2027

    Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium is undergoing one of the country’s most comprehensive sports infrastructure overhauls, as the government pushes to have the venue ready ahead of Kenya’s co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

    The redevelopment is being led by the Kenya Defence Forces, tasked with transforming the historic venue into a facility capable of hosting international football and athletics events.

    Currently holding around 8,200 spectators, the stadium will be expanded to between 13,000 and 15,000 seats in the current phase, with a long-term target of 20,000. Ongoing works include reinforced concrete pillar installation, column casting, beam works, and terracing designed to support the expanded seating and improve spectator movement.

    The upgrade will also introduce an all-weather Tartan running track, a FIFA-standard pitch, upgraded floodlighting for evening fixtures, and a new VIP pavilion.

    The current phase builds on an earlier World Bank-supported renovation costing Sh650 million, which delivered pitch and drainage rehabilitation, the main pavilion, and upgraded athletics track and terraces.

    For Nakuru’s sports fraternity, the stakes are significant. Afraha has long been home to four-time league champions Ulinzi Stars and a regular venue for FKF Premier League fixtures and national athletics meets, but the facility has sat largely dormant for top-flight football since redevelopment began, with its last league match — a goalless draw between Ulinzi and KCB — played back in January 2021.

    A revamped Afraha is expected to restore that competitive buzz, give local athletes and footballers access to modern training and competition facilities, and reestablish Nakuru’s standing as a genuine regional sports hub.

    Beyond the pitch, officials say the project should stimulate sports tourism and local economic activity by attracting major domestic and international events to the city. With AFCON 2027 on the horizon, Afraha’s transformation stands as one of the clearest signals yet of Kenya’s readiness to deliver on its continental hosting duties.

  • Sakaja steps in to end Matano-Aussems feud

    Sakaja steps in to end Matano-Aussems feud

    Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has succeeded where years of silence and legal threats failed, mediating a truce between KCB head coach Robert Matano and newly appointed Nairobi United coach Patrick Aussems ahead of the 2026/2027 SportPesa Premier League season.

    The reconciliation was sealed at a meeting held in the Governor’s office, bringing the two tacticians together along with senior Nairobi United officials, with both men reportedly agreeing to finally set aside a rivalry that had simmered for years.

    The dispute dates back to April 2023 when Aussems was in charge of AFC Leopards. After a last-minute 1-0 defeat to Tusker FC, then coached by Matano, the Belgian appeared to aim his counterpart in a post on social media.

    “Unfortunately, we have been punished at the last minute due to lack of aggressiveness! Congrats to the Players of Tusker FC. Of course I won’t talk about an old coach with no international experience who is more a juju man than a tactician…one could learn!”

    The remarks did not sit well with Matano, who responded by filing a defamation suit against the Belgian coach through his legal team, demanding a public apology and accusing Aussems of portraying him as a sorcerer rather than a tactician. The case stalled after Aussems left the country without formally responding to the claim, leaving the matter unresolved for years.

    With Aussems’ recent return to Kenyan football to take over at Nairobi United, the legal dispute looked set to resurface. Matano had made clear the case remained very much alive, welcoming his rival back to the league while signalling his intention to pursue it to a conclusion given Aussems’ earlier failure to respond. “I’m happy to see him back. He did not file any defence in the case I sued him over, but now that he’s back in Kenya, the matter will proceed, and I will get justice,” said Matano.

    That is where Sakaja stepped in. As patron of Nairobi United, the governor is understood to have used his position to bring the two coaches together, engineering an end to the feud before it could spill back into the courts or overshadow the new season.

    Details of exactly what was said in the meeting have not been made public, but sources close to the club indicate both coaches left having agreed to move past the dispute and focus on the season ahead.

    Aussems now takes charge of an ambitious Nairobi United side chasing domestic silverware, replacing interim boss Godfrey “Solo” Oduor. For Matano and Aussems, Sakaja’s intervention closes a three-year chapter of legal threats and public jabs — and clears the air for what promises to be a heated title race between two of Kenya’s most decorated coaches.

  • Kenyan trio crowned champions with Nejmeh

    Kenyan trio crowned champions with Nejmeh

    Anthony Akumu, Masoud Juma, and Austin Odhiambo have lifted their first piece of silverware together in Lebanese football, helping Nejmeh SC beat Al Hikma 2-0 to win the Lebanese FA Cup at Fouad Chehab Stadium.

    Goals from Ali El Fadl and an own goal from an Al Hikma defender secured the win for Nejmeh, with Akumu and Juma named in the starting line-up and playing the full 90 minutes. Akumu marshalled the midfield, while Juma led the line throughout as Nejmeh saw out the win. Odhiambo, who joined from Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, came off the bench to add his name to the triumph.

    The trophy caps one of the most turbulent seasons in Nejmeh’s recent history. Nejmeh had entered the campaign as one of the favourites for the league title but dropped crucial points along the way, ultimately finishing outside the championship positions and turning to the domestic cup as their last realistic shot at silverware.

    That difficult campaign was compounded by events far removed from football. In March, escalating regional conflict brought explosions to Beirut, forcing the suspension of football activity and pushing Akumu, Juma, and Odhiambo to seek an urgent route home. The three secured a flight out via Egypt as the security situation deteriorated, with the club granting them leave until conditions improved. Their return to Beirut once things settled down set the stage for the run to Wednesday’s final.

    For a group that arrived in Lebanon separately and built its bond amid genuine danger as much as it did through football, Wednesday’s win carries extra weight. It marks their first trophy together since joining the Beirut giants, and a fitting way to salvage a season that threatened, at multiple points, to unravel entirely — both on the pitch and off it.

  • Kipyegon eyes redemption in Monaco Diamond League clash

    Kipyegon eyes redemption in Monaco Diamond League clash

    Faith Kipyegon returns to the Stade Louis II on Friday, chasing redemption after her first defeat of the season at the Prefontaine Classic on July 4

    She seeks redemption at a venue that has already given her one of the biggest nights of her career.

    Kipyegon will race the 3000m at the Herculis EBS meeting, marking her first appearance in Monaco since 2023, when she broke the mile world record at the venue, one of three world records she set that season.

    Kipyegon returns having chased more history since — setting the Diamond League 3000m record in Silesia, just short of the 32-year-old world record, and now getting another shot at that mark on home turf for the record books.

    The comeback bid follows a rare stumble in Eugene. At the Prefontaine Classic on July 4, Kipyegon had not lost a Diamond League race over 800m, mile or 1500m since being beaten by Sifan Hassan in Florence five years earlier.

    That streak ended when American Nikki Hiltz produced a decisive late surge, with Hiltz clocking a world-leading 4:17.49 to hand Kipyegon her first 1500m or mile loss since the 2021 Rome Diamond League. Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi split the pair for second, while Kipyegon crossed third in 4:17.80.

    Kipyegon herself has framed the result as part of a longer build, having only recently returned to full training and racing following a hamstring injury, with her season opener in Shanghai and the Eugene mile serving as stepping stones back to top form.

    In Monaco, she faces a stacked field that includes world indoor 3000m champion Nadia Battocletti, Jessica Hull, and world cross-country champion Agnes Ngetich, who makes her track-season debut. For Kipyegon, redemption may not need to come in the form of victory alone — a fast time on a track built for records would go a long way toward silencing any doubts raised in Oregon.

  • Taifa Stars skipper Samatta bows out of international football after 15 years

    Taifa Stars skipper Samatta bows out of international football after 15 years

    Mbwana Ally Samatta, the long-serving captain of Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, has brought the curtain down on a 15-year international career that established him as one of the most influential footballers East Africa has ever produced.

    Samatta made his mark on the national team almost from the moment he broke through, going on to become Tanzania’s all-time leading scorer and its most-capped active outfield player, with well over 80 appearances and more than 20 goals to his name across a career that spanned three different decades of Taifa Stars football.

    His leadership helped guide Tanzania to consecutive Africa Cup of Nations appearances, including the country’s return to the tournament after a 39-year absence, a landmark moment he has often described as one of the proudest of his career.

     

    Off the international stage, Samatta’s journey took him from Simba Sports Club in his homeland to TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he won the CAF Champions League and was crowned African Player of the Year in 2015. He went on to enjoy a decorated spell in Belgium with Genk, before becoming the first Tanzanian to play in the English Premier League with Aston Villa in 2020. His career later took him through Turkey, back to Belgium, Greece, and most recently to France’s Ligue 1 with Le Havre, making him the first Tanzanian to represent a top-flight French club as well.

     

    Bwana Samatta playing for Aston Villa in the English Premier League.IMAGE: COURTESY

    Throughout his time as captain, Samatta was widely credited with raising the profile of Tanzanian football on the continental and global stage, inspiring a generation of young players to believe a pathway to Europe’s top leagues was possible. As he steps away from international duty, attention now turns to how the Taifa Stars will fill the leadership void left by a player who, for over a decade, was the face of Tanzanian football.