U-17 AFCON: Tanzania’s Serengeti Boys begin campaign with dominant win

Tanzania made a strong start to their 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (U-17 AFCON) campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Mozambique in a Group C match played at the Mohammed VI Football Academy Pitch 11 in Morocco.

The young Tanzanian side produced a disciplined and confident performance to secure three important points as they continue their quest to qualify beyond the group stage for the first time in the country’s history.

The match began at a high tempo, with both teams showing attacking intent in the opening minutes. Mozambique attempted to press forward early, but Tanzania gradually settled into the contest and looked more dangerous going forward. hiddenlangkawi.club

The Serengeti Boys opened the scoring in the 26th minute through striker Dismas Athanasi. The forward received the ball just outside the penalty area before firing home a brilliant strike. The goal was initially checked by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) before eventually being confirmed, sparking celebrations among the Tanzanian players and bench.

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Tanzania doubled their advantage in the 35th minute after a costly mistake by Mozambique defender Pascoal Demi. The defender attempted to pass the ball back to goalkeeper João Jofrisse, but the ball slipped past the keeper and rolled into the net for an own goal.

After the break, both coaches made several tactical changes, but it was Tanzania head coach Elieneza Nsanganzelu whose substitutions appeared to have the greater impact.

In the 63rd minute, Razaki Mbengelendi added the third goal with a wellntaken header to seal an important victory for Serengeti Boys and underline their attacking quality.

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The win gives Tanzania three points at the top of Group C. Mali and Angola each have one point after the two sides played out a goalless draw earlier in the day.

Serengeti Boys will now shift focus to their second group stage match against Angola U17 on May 17 at 16:00 EAT.

Tanzania arrived in Morocco determined to make history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time after previous appearances in 2017, 2019 and 2025 ended in the group phase.

With more FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification slots now available for African teams, the Serengeti Boys will be aiming to establish themselves among the continent’s rising football nations.

Their strong opening display against Mozambique has already sent an encouraging message that Tanzania could become one of the surprise packages of the tournament.

La Fédération brésilienne de football a officialisé la continuité de Carlo Ancelotti à la tête de la sélection nationale. Alors que l’Italien prépare la liste des joueurs pour la prochaine Coupe du Monde 2026 organisée aux États-Unis, au Canada et au Mexique, son contrat a été prolongé pour quatre saisons supplémentaires, le liant désormais à la Seleção jusqu’en 2030. Cette décision confirme la volonté de stabilité de la CBF autour du technicien italien, arrivé en 2025 et chargé d’inscrire le projet brésilien dans la durée. Son bilan est de 5 victoires, 2 nuls et 3 défaites depuis sa nomination. Le Brésil, nation la plus titrée de l’histoire du football mondial, vise une nouvelle campagne ambitieuse lors du Mondial 2026, dans un groupe C composé du Maroc, d’Haiti et de l’Ecosse. Une confiance assumée dans le projet Ancelotti Dans son communiqué publié sur les réseaux sociaux, la CBF a insisté sur la continuité du projet et la confiance accordée à son sélectionneur : « La Confédération brésilienne de football et l’entraîneur Carlo Ancelotti ont renouvelé leur contrat pour quatre années supplémentaires, jusqu’à la Coupe du monde 2030. Le maintien d’Ancelotti à la tête de l’équipe nationale brésilienne — l’équipe la plus titrée de l’histoire du football mondial — témoigne non seulement du soutien de la CBF au travail accompli par l’entraîneur, mais aussi de la confiance qu’il a su gagner auprès de l’équipe et des supporters brésiliens depuis son arrivée fin mai 2025 », peut-on lire sur le compte officiel de l’instance. Avec cette prolongation, la Brésil sécurise son avenir à long terme et se projette déjà vers la Coupe du monde 2030, tout en préparant activement son entrée en lice pour l’édition 2026. Interrogé sur son favori pour la grand-messe, l’ancien entraîneur de l’AC Milan a répondu : « Ce n’est pas l’équipe parfaite qui remportera le Mondial, mais celle qui fera preuve de la plus grande résilience. »

L’article Brésil : Carlo Ancelotti prolongé jusqu’en 2030 avant le Mondial 2026 est apparu en premier sur AfricaFootUnited.

SA Rugby could reportedly reconsider the participation of South African clubs in the Investec Champions Cup as concerns grow over player workload.

Speaking after SA Rugby’s annual meeting in Cape Town on Thursday, president Mark Alexander confirmed that all competitions involving South African teams are under review.

While Alexander did not specifically mention the Champions Cup, Netwerk24 understands that the possibility of South African teams withdrawing from Europe’s premier club competition is being discussed internally.

No South African club has progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup since joining the competition in the 2022-23 season, with teams generally placing greater emphasis on the Vodacom URC.

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“We generate our income from participating in tournaments. Participation is important, but our players are overworked,” Alexander said.

“We will hold a workshop in July in which we will have to decide which competitions will be retained and which ones we can drop.”

Alexander stressed the need to better manage player welfare amid increasingly demanding schedules.

“We have to find a balance so that our players can rest enough. They cannot play 11 months of the year,” he said.

SA RUGBY CEO: Global season needs compromise

Alexander also expressed frustration at the lack of progress around a global season.

“Discussions about a global rugby calendar have been going on for 14 years without anything concrete coming to fruition,” he said.

“If you do the same thing over and over again, you’re not going to get a different outcome.

“We have to make tough decisions as an organisation and we will do that over the next month or two.

“It has to be done in the best interests of our players.”

WORLD RUGBY CEO: Springbok schedule not sustainable

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Monument may be one of the dominant forces in South African schoolboy rugby this season, but their strong form is not translating into obvious favour in the early Craven Week selection race.

The Lions U18 trial squad to face the Pumas has been released and, on paper, it is not especially flattering for the Witbulle.

The biggest talking point has to be the omission of ultra heavyweight locks Henco van Geelen and Matthew van Deventer from the trial A side. Their exclusion is difficult to ignore.

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Van Geelen, in particular, looks every bit a genuine contender not only for Lions honours but potentially for higher recognition, with many likely to view him as a legitimate South African u18 prospect. Alongside Van Deventer, the engine-room pair have been instrumental in making the Monnas pack one of the most physically dominant units in the country this year. Their set-piece and tight-loose strength, coupled with brutal efficiency in contact, have repeatedly laid the platform for Monument victories.

Also surprisingly relegated to the B team is big influential No 8 Ryno van der Westhuizen. Given his importance to Monnas’ forward dominance, he appeared one of the more secure selections heading into trials. Instead, like his lock partners, he now has to prove his case all over again. Life was not set to be easy with the Noordheuwel back-row pairing of Armand van Eck and Kean Lourens returning this year with Craven Week 2025 experience under the belt.

The midfield selections have been equally fascinating.

The battle for the Lions Craven Week No 12 jersey always looked set to be one of the season’s marquee contests, given the quality available. On the current trial selections, however, the early advantage belongs to Helpmekaar’s Ethan Lourens, who was in the 2025 Craven Week team alongside his SA Schools 2026 candidate twin Shaye Lourens (scrumhalf).

A notable twist sees one of Ethan’s main rivals, Phano Letsie, shifted to outside centre. This comes despite Monument u17 midfielder Blessing Monareng having looked increasingly convincing in that role throughout the season. Monareng has at least been included on the A-team bench. Letsie was at Craven Week in 2025.

KES powerhouse Sam Smith, named in the B team, remains firmly in the conversation as another contender for the inside centre berth. However, perhaps the most surprising name on the outside looking in is Juandré Ehlers.

Currently in the Lions C team, Ehlers possesses all the raw ingredients coaches tend to covet beyond school rugby — decent size, speed and skill in one package. Under different circumstances, he may well have been viewed as a frontrunner not only for Lions selection but potentially as a candidate for SA Schools consideration. For now, that pathway appears significantly narrower unless he can force a rethink through the trial matches.

There is better news for a handful of Monnas backs.

Reliable goal-kicker and prolific points accumulator Jaydon Viljoen gets the nod at flyhalf, while tall, physically imposing wing Ruan Genis is also rewarded. Both look like players with legitimate post-school rugby futures.

An interesting omission from the A team is Jeppe’s Joel Akilo, who plays most of his school rugby at 13 but represented the Lions at wing during last year’s Craven Week. He has again been named on the wing, but only in the B lineup. This suggests selectors still value his athletic upside, footwork and versatility, while affording him one final opportunity to strengthen his case.

Loose forward Siya Ncube is another Monnas player to benefit, earning recognition after a series of strong performances in the shadow of the Witbulle’s heavyweight pack. Back-row teammate Caleb Sparks has been less fortunate, finding himself in the C team.

At the back, Loghan Langevelt also finds himself in the B team. The Monnas fullback has been lively, dependable and generally assured. However making the Lions Craven Week side was always going to be a long shot, irrespective of how good his form is. One surprise A-team selection in this department is Jeppe’s u17 regular flyhalf, Ndzalama Mbhalati, whose booming boot may have counted in his favour. He gets the nod over Nories Craven Week 2025 player Tidi Moekesane (A-team bench).

Meanwhile, Cameron Kourie’s selection ahead of experienced KES utility back Daniel Soekoe is noteworthy in itself. Kourie has quietly developed into an important versatile option for Monument this season, capable of covering multiple inside back roles. Monnas wing Miguel Coetzee also finds himself in the C’s.

Elsewhere, one of the more intriguing positional battles remains at loosehead prop.

Jeppe’s Josh Hamman currently appears to have edged ahead of Helpmekaar’s Diandro Botha. It remains one of the tighter and more compelling selection races in the squad.