European Leagues

FUFA gives update on progress PAMOJA AFCON 2027 bid

FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim has on Wednesday given the latest update in regard to the East Africa PAMOJA bid for 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The President revealed the progress so far and the upcoming events in a press briefing held at FUFA Complex.

The President was flanked by FUFA 2nd Vice President Darius Mugoye, FUFA 3rd Vice President Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, FUFA EXCO Members Rogers Mulindwa, Rogers Mulindwa and Dr. Apollo Ahimbisibwe plus FUFA Deputy CEO-Football Decolas Kiiza.

He started by giving a preamble of how the idea was mooted and the initial stages that were done.

“As you are aware, there was a call by CAF in January for countries to bid as hosts for AFCON 2027 and three East African Nations (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) came together to officially express interest,” he started before adding, “We first had engagements as the three federations ((FUFA, FKF and TFF). The next step was to get approval from Governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania which I’m glad to report we got. All the three Governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania signed seven different guarantees that are provided by CAF and later submitted as required.”

The President lauded the three heads of States (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) indicating they have been positive about the bid and ready to support it.

“I want in a special way to thank the Heads of States of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, H.E William Samoei Ruto and H.E Samia Suluhu who have been supportive in this cause and committed to invest in order to realize this dream.” He said.

FUFA President revealed that the CAF inspection team will visit Uganda on 28th and 29th July to identity to identify the key venues that were proposed.

“We have done series of meetings with different key stakeholders, inspections and been to various locations. We are now at a stage where we need to update the country of what has happened and what is next.”

“The CAF Inspection Team will visit the three East African states, starting with Kenya today and will be in Uganda on 28th and 29th July before proceeding to Tanzania. As FUFA, we have earmarked some of the venues that will used for sampling purposes during the inspection.” He stated.

The proposed venues

Hospital – Mulago Hospital

Hotels – Sheraton Hotel and Kampala Serena Hotel

Training Grounds – Kampala International School Uganda (KISU), Muteesa II Stadium Wankulukuku, Denver Godwin Stadium, St. Mary’s Stadium and Nakivubo Stadium.

Stadiums – Mandela National Stadium, Akii Bua Stadium and Hoima (Proposed for construction)

Airports – Entebbe International Airport, Kabalega Airport, Hoima.

“As FUFA we sent FUFA EXCO Member Ronnie Kalema to observe the process. We shall also have Rogers Byamukama move with the team to Tanzania to do the same. Equally, we expect someone from Kenya and Tanzania to also be here so that we are working along the same lines.”

FUFA President called upon Ugandans to embrace and support the bid because it will have positive impact on the region if it is succeeds.

“I want to inform the public that bids are awarded on plans not what exists. We have the confidence that by 2027 the necessary structures will be in place.This bid is for all of us. Every Ugandan should support because Government has made the commitment to do massive investment in infrastructure. When Uganda hosted CHOGM in 2007 there were benefits that came along including the hotel industry. We believe hosting AFCON will have lasting impact on this region.” He stated.

The last time an East African Member Association hosted the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations tournament was in 1970 by Sudan.

European Leagues

Don’t Buy Unofficial Final Tickets, UEFA Warns

UEFA has issued a warning to fans ahead of the club competition finals not to buy tickets on the secondary market, from unauthorised third parties, websites, agencies or from touts.

“Tickets issued for the UEFA club competition finals are 100% digital and made available exclusively through the official UEFA Mobile Tickets App, which includes several security features that aim to combat unauthorised ticket sales,” said UEFA.

UEFA said that any tickets bought outside the platform are liable to be cancelled at any time and fans are likely to be refused entry or be ejected from the stadium.

Ticket sales to the general public and fans of the teams in the finals can only be bought via UEFA.com.

UEFA highlighted the precautions against non-official ticket sales, saying:

Ticket transferability rules and restrictions have been implemented for the General Public and each finalist club.
Sharing of accounts is not permitted in the UEFA Mobile Tickets App. Only the phone used to download the mobile tickets will be able to access the stadium.
Screenshots of mobile tickets are not valid tickets. Anyone attempting to enter the stadium with such screenshots will be refused entry.
Paper tickets and print-at-home tickets are not valid tickets.

Enforcement of the rules will include monitoring of the internet, and action (including cancelling tickets) where breaches of its terms and conditions are identified, said UEFA. Some tickets for the finals have already been cancelled in this respect and further cancellations are likely to follow.

UEFA also warned fans against travel to the stadiums without tickets as they will not gain admittance.

Insideworldfootball.com

LaLiga

Yamal To Inherit Messi’s No. 10 At Barca

Lamine Yamal will reportedly inherit Lionel Messi’s iconic No 10 shirt at Barcelona after signing a new contract with the club this summer.

Despite only being 17, Yamal has emerged as a Ballon d’Or contender this season after winning the Euros with Spain last year, and is widely viewed as the game’s biggest talent since Messi burst onto the scene almost 20 years ago.

Similarities have been drawn between the pair, and Yamal now looks set to follow in Messi’s footsteps once again.

According to Memorabilia1899.co, Yamal will celebrate his 18th birthday in July by signing a new long-term contract with Barcelona that will contain a €1bn (£841m) release clause.

The deal will also see Yamal handed the No 10 shirt which is currently occupied by Ansu Fati.

Fati is facing an uncertain future at Barcelona, and will have the famous jersey taken off him by Yamal, who has been donning the No 19 shirt this season.

Lamine Yamal will reportedly take the No 10 shirt when he signs a new Barcelona deal

This will signify another historic moment in Yamal’s fledgling career, after he made his Barcelona debut two years ago when he was only 15.

Since then, he has won LaLiga twice, and starred in Barcelona’s run to the Champions League semi-finals this season before they were knocked out by Inter Milan in a thrilling tie.

Yamal looks primed to dazzle in the No 10 shirt for years to come, just like Messi did after he took the jersey in 2008.

Messi made the shirt his own for 13 years, winning the Ballon d’Or on seven occasions during this period, before adding another to his collection in 2023 after winning the World Cup the previous year with Argentina.

The Argentine icon finished his Barcelona career in 2021 with a staggering 672 goals in 778 appearances, plus 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions League triumphs to his name.

Yamal has big boots to fill, but has already shown that he can light up the biggest stages.

The winger had pundits purring over his ability earlier this month after Barcelona’s 3-3 draw with Inter, as Rio Ferdinand hailed him as the best player in the world, while Jamie Carragher compared him to a prime Messi.

Ferdinand wrote on X: ‘As a pure football talent I’m going as far as to say I think Lamine Yamal is on another level to any player playing the game in the top 5 leagues in world football.

Yamal claimed his second LaLiga title last week, and lifted the trophy over the weekend

Meanwhile, Carragher said on CBS Sports: ‘That (performance) was Messi-esque. That was like watching Messi in his heyday.

‘The whole game almost stopping to just see what he was going to do. It was just brilliant.’

Dailymail.co.uk

Serie A

Klopp ‘Agrees’ To Take Over Roma – Report

Former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp agreed to become AS Roma’s new coach on Sunday shortly after their 3-1 home win over AC Milan, La Stampa has reported in its online edition.

The arrival of the charismatic German coach would lead to “electric” dealings on the summer transfer market, with the acquisition of six new players, according to the report.

Ansa.it