Kenya will open its Group D AFCON qualification campaign against Eritrea on Saturday, but preparations have been disrupted. Players are demanding payment for allowances accrued from their last four international assignments.

Bonface Osano, Marabou News Agency

Kenya national football team, Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has called on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to address emerging issues in the national team camp, as Kenya prepares to begin its 2027 EA Pamoja AFCON qualification campaign.

Kenya will open its Group D campaign against Eritrea on Saturday, September 26, at Nyayo Stadium before travelling to face Guinea on October 1.

But preparations have been disrupted. Players are yet to train since Tuesday over unresolved welfare and logistical concerns. They are demanding payment for allowances accrued from their last four international assignments before returning to training.

They are also seeking better travel and accommodation arrangements during away assignments, citing poor standards in previous camps.

The players have further requested an audience with president William Ruto and the top brass at the ministry of sports to present their grievances.

“I’d love for the federation to be a little bit more proactive and not let anything come into this camp that shouldn’t concern us. We must be here for football and nothing else, work on what we need to do, getting the best preparation that we need, instead of fighting all kinds of things. I’ve not thought about football once because I’m constantly defending the team, the players and talking about things that don’t matter to me,” McCarthy lamented.

The South African coach also defended himself against criticism over his presence in Kenya and his monitoring of local talent.

McCarthy revealed that he and his technical staff have been working without work permits since their appointment in March 2025. He also pointed out that the domestic leagues are yet to commence, limiting his opportunities to assess players in competitive action.

“I think there are a lot of things that can change, that the federation can do better, and I hope they can do because we want Kenyan football to prosper. It can only prosper when the federation does what they need to do to make sure that football is run properly, and then that will allow me to do my job with the team correctly as well,” McCarthy added.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, but the three hosts are still required to participate in the qualification process.

Kenya’s preparations come against the backdrop of a prolonged football crisis, with disputes and court cases delaying the start of the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season.

For McCarthy, resolving the off-field issues is crucial if Harambee Stars are to focus fully on their preparations for the continental campaign.

Marabou News Agency

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The 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations will bring together eight of Africa’s leading futsal nations, with hosts Morocco expected to have a successful tournament.

Bonface Osano, Marabou New Agency

Zambia Futsal national team head coach Andrea Cristoforetti has named his final 14-member squad for the 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations, set for Morocco from October 12 to 21.

The team will fine-tune their preparations with two international friendly matches against Egypt on October 3 and 6.

Cristoforetti says the squad combines youth and experience, but admits Zambia faces a tough challenge after being drawn in Group A alongside hosts and defending champions Morocco, Algeria and Libya.

“We’ve been consistently monitoring the players, trying to put a good mix of young players, experienced players, and also finding a good balance in different roles,” Andrea said.

Cristoforetti has set a semi-final appearance as Zambia’s target, although he acknowledges the difficulty of topping a group that includes three-time African champions Morocco.

“Our objective is to go to the semifinals, do well in the group stage in this campaign, knowing that it will be very difficult because we’re playing against the champions. It should be clear to all of us that Morocco is out of the league of all the African teams,” he added.

Zambia’s qualification for the continental showpiece is already being viewed as a significant achievement, with the team now aiming to make a deep run in Morocco.

Morocco, who won the title in 2016, 2020 and 2024, will open their Group A campaign alongside Libya, Zambia and Algeria.

Group B features three-time champions Egypt, who won the title in 1996, 2000 and 2004, alongside Angola, Mozambique and Tanzania. Libya, meanwhile, will be seeking to revive the form that saw them lift the continental title in 2008. The 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations will bring together eight of Africa’s leading futsal nations.

Marabou News Agency

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A landmark Wheelchair American Football exhibition was hosted in Lagos, Nigeria recently, with plans underway to establish a wheelchair American football super league in the West African nation.

Oliver Ochieng, Marabou News Agency

The American Football for Elite Development (AFEDEV) is in advance talks to establish a Wheelchair American Football Super League in Nigeria.

This is after the recent successful hosting of the country’s landmark Wheelchair American Football Exhibition in Lagos.

Supported by the U.S Consulate in Nigeria and other partners, the four team exhibition event held at the Basketball Court of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) was well attended with stakeholders affirming support toward the growth and sustainability of the initiative.

Players and officials expressed excitement with the opportunity to showcase their talent, while commending AFEDEV’s efforts to develop the sport in Nigeria.

“Keep training, keep recruiting friends that you know are also talented and eventually develop enough knowledge to be a coach yourself because that is what it takes to spread the sport. Even after retirement you can still stay with it, create your own team, coach your own players,” said coach Dominik Muller, one of the trainers who attended the event.

AFEDEV founder Lawrence Ojaideh hailed the athletes for commitment, dedication, vision, skills and determination displayed during the one-day event, adding that more is in store for them.

“We want to set up a league to enable these athletes to compete at the highest level. A league that will prepare them for greater opportunities. That league may play a season or two in a year, that is being finalized by the board as we speak. And that season will start from 2027. So, we believe that what has happened today will make them look ahead towards that league to be able to show their skills,” he stated.

Christiana Olowolagba, one of the players, was amazed by what she saw during the exhibition matches.

“Wow, wow, wow. It’s a lovely game. I never believed we could have that in Nigeria. Being the first American wheelchair basketball players in Nigeria is great. They don’t do jokes. The way I used to watch it in America, I thought it was something that is very hard for us to play,” the athlete said.

“When the Ables play, I’ve never seen the wheelchair playing it. This is my first time. So, when we have our coaches, they show us the game where wheelchair players do play wheelchair American football. So, I say that yes, we can do it.”

During the exhibition, Liberty Pioneers proved to be the best of competing quartets as they emerged winners defeating Atlantic Charger 10-3-in the decider.

Marabou News Agency

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