Circuit de la Sarthe legend Henri Pescarolo started in an incredible 33 Le Mans 24 Hours - 30 of those being consecutively between 1970 and 1999 😲
The Frenchman won Le Mans four times outright in 1972-4 and 1984, with a further two class wins in 1976. and 1992.
Pescarolo also started 57 F1 world championship grands prix between 1968 and 1976.
#LeMans24 #MotorSport
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| Ghana fans |
As Africa counts down to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), it’s impossible to overlook the legacy built by the tournament’s earliest giants. Among them, Ghana’s dominance throughout the 1960s stands as one of the most remarkable periods in the continent’s football history.
In just six years, the Black Stars rose from newcomers to a continental force—reaching three straight finals and lifting the trophy twice. It’s a fitting moment to revisit the era that first established Ghana among Africa’s elite.
Ghana made their AFCON debut in 1963 as hosts, stepping onto the continental stage with confidence and cohesion uncommon for a first-time participant. Guided by the visionary leadership of coach Charles Kumi Gyamfi, the team quickly captured the imagination of fans.
The final at the Accra Sports Stadium pitted Ghana against Sudan, and with inspired performances from the likes of Edward Acquah and Wilberforce Mfum, the Black Stars secured an emphatic 3–0 win. In doing so, they became the first nation since Egypt to win the tournament on debut—a powerful indication of what lay ahead.
The momentum carried into 1965, when Ghana travelled to Tunisia to defend their title. The storyline was compelling: the reigning champions on foreign soil, facing off against the host nation. Yet the Black Stars remained resolute. In a tightly contested final, they defeated Tunisia 3–2, with goals from Osei Kofi and Frank Odoi ensuring back-to-back championships. At the time, only Egypt had previously won the trophy twice, and Ghana now joined them in that rare company.
By 1968, Ghana stood on the brink of unprecedented history. No team had ever claimed three consecutive AFCON titles. The tournament in Ethiopia saw the Black Stars march to the final once again, this time facing Congo-Kinshasa (now DR Congo). What many expected to be a crowning moment instead became a hard-fought battle, with Ghana narrowly losing 1–0. Though the dream of a historic treble slipped away, their presence in a third straight final confirmed their status as one of Africa’s most formidable sides.
The achievements of that decade were about more than silverware. They laid the groundwork for generations to come, proving that tactical discipline, homegrown expertise, and bold ambition could lift a team to the summit of African football. Under C.K. Gyamfi’s guidance, and with the contributions of players like Mfum, Odoi, and Addo Odametey, Ghana built a legacy that continues to shape the nation’s football identity.
- Graeme Jackson
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the FIRST PLAYER in NBA history to have 70/30/30 over any 2-game span since Wilt Chamberlain (1968).
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| Foreman died aged 76 (Picture: Getty Images) |
Mike Tyson has led the tributes to George Foreman following the death of the heavyweight legend.
Foreman’s family announced the death of the former world champion on Friday night with ‘their hearts broken’ after the loss of ‘Big George’ at the age of 76.
He leaves behind a staggering legacy in boxing, having won gold for USA at the 1968 Olympics before becoming one of the most feared world champions in the sport.
Foreman fought Muhammad Alli at the legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ and was crowned the oldest world champion in history in 1994.
Foreman is remembered as one of the most ferocious punchers in boxing history with tributes quickly pouring in for the American.
Another heavyweight legend in Mike Tyson was among the first to pass on his message of support to the Foreman family.
‘Condolences to George Foreman’s family,” Tyson said on social media, sharing pictures of the two together. ‘His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.’
Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum said: ‘George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family. We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.’
Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew wrote: ‘RIP to one of the greatest human beings to ever put on boxing gloves.. This man was truly amazing!
‘There is no doubt imo he’s the greatest puncher boxing has ever seen.. Rest easy king the world is a lesser place without you.’
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| Foreman weighing in for Rumble In The Jungle (Picture: UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) |
A statement from the Foreman family released overnight said: ‘Our hearts are broken.
‘With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones.
‘A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.
A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.
‘We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.’
- Tony Mogan
Eusebio da Silva Ferreira (1942 – 2014) was one of the greatest players in world football. Strong in acrobatics, powerful in conclusions, he scored in any way. Let it be witnessed by the fact that, with Benfica, in 614 matches, both official and friendly, he scored 638 goals.
Born in Mozambique, today Maputo, at the time Portuguese colony, arrived in Lisbon very young and wore the Benfica shirt for 15 years winning 11 championships (the first in 1960-61, the last in 1971-72); 5 Portuguese Cups and a Champions Cup (1961-62).
He was 7 times the top scorer of the Portuguese league, Ballon d'Or in 1965 and twice the Golden Boot (the first edition in 1968 and 1973).
He played three more Champions Cup finals and was the trophy's top scorer in 1965, 1966 and 1968.
He was, of course, a pillar of the Lusitanian national team with which they won third place in the 1966 World Cup and was the top scorer of the 9 nets event.
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| Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he carries the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) |
MELBOURNE, Australia — There’s all sorts of ways beyond merely the score to measure just how dominant Jannik Sinner was while outplaying and frustrating Alexander Zverev during the 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory Sunday that earned the 23-year-old Italian a second consecutive Australian Open championship.
The zero break points Sinner faced. Or the 10 he accumulated. The 27-13 advantage in points that lasted at least nine strokes. Or the way Sinner accumulated more winners, 32 to 25, and fewer unforced errors, 27 to 45. The way Sinner won 10 of 13 points that ended with him at the net. Or the way he only let Zverev go 14 of 27 in that category, frequently zipping passing shots out of reach.
And here is one more bit of evidence: Listen to what Zverev told Sinner during the on-court trophy ceremony: “You’re the best player in the world, by far. I was hoping that I could be more of a competitor today, but you’re just too good. It’s as simple as that.”
That’s coming from the guy who is ranked No. 2 behind Sinner, who has held the No. 1 spot since last June and is not showing any signs of relinquishing it. This was the first Australian Open final between the men at No. 1 and No. 2 since 2019, when No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated No. 2 Rafael Nadal — also in straight sets.
“It’s amazing,” Sinner said, “to achieve these things.”
That includes being the youngest man to leave Melbourne Park with the trophy two years in a row since Jim Courier in 1992-93 and the first man since Nadal at the French Open in 2005 and 2006 to follow up his first Grand Slam title by repeating as the champion at the same tournament a year later.
Since the start of 2024, Sinner has won three of the five major tournaments, including the U.S. Open in September, and his record in that span is 80-6 with a total of nine tournament titles. His current unbeaten run covers 21 matches.
The only thing that’s clouded the past 12 months for Sinner, it seems, is a doping case in which he was cleared by a ruling that was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. He tested positive for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid twice last March but blamed it on an accidental exposure involving two members of his team who have since been fired. Sinner initially was exonerated in August; a hearing in the WADA appeal is scheduled for April.
While Sinner became the eighth man in the Open era (which began in 1968) to start his career 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, Zverev is the seventh to be 0-3, adding this loss to those at the 2020 U.S. Open and the 2024 French Open.
Those earlier setbacks both came in five sets. This contest was not that close. Not at all.
“We’re trying to do all the right work,” Zverev said. “I’m just not good enough.”
Just before Zverev began speaking into a microphone during the trophy ceremony, a voice cried out from the stands, making reference to two of the player’s ex-girlfriends who accused him of physical abuse.
During the match, there truly was only one moment that felt as if it contained a hint of tension. It came when Zverev was two points from owning the second set, leading it 5-4 and at love-30 on Sinner’s serve. But a break point — and a set point — never arrived.
Zverev dropped the next four points, making it 5-all, and Sinner emerged with the ensuing tiebreaker. No surprise there: He went 4-0 in those set-deciders over the past two weeks and has grabbed 16 of his past 18.
A year ago, Sinner went through a lot more trouble to earn his first Slam, needing to get past Novak Djokovic — who quit one set into his semifinal against Zverev on Friday because of a torn hamstring — first, before erasing a two-set deficit in the final against 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
This time, the 6-foot-3 (1.91-meter) Sinner applied pressure with an all-around style that does not really appear to have any holes as his sneakers squeak from a sprint to a slide that often nearly ends in the splits and he uses his long limbs to deliver deep groundstrokes.
On this night, he proved superior in just about every meaningful way, other than aces.
Returning serves from Zverev that reached 138 mph (223 kph), Sinner got the lone break of the opening set with a passing shot for a 5-4 lead. Zverev walked back behind the baseline, shaking his head while talking to his father and brother, who were seated in the front row of their courtside coaches’ box.
There was more negative body language after Sinner served out that set at love to continue his crescendo, the final note an ace at 120 mph (194 kph). Zverev trudged to his bench, shoulders sagging, and dropped his racket on an equipment bag, a gesture that conveyed annoyance more than anger. Later, it became the latter: Zverev cracked one racket on the court and used a racket to hit another on the sideline.
Understandable, given what Sinner was doing on the other side of the net.
- Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
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| Japan booked their place in the Olympic men's football tournament on Saturday with a game to spare after Rihito Yamamoto scrambled home the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute for a 1-0 win over Mali. Koji Watanabe/Getty Images |
Japan are no strangers to going far in the men's football tournament at the Olympics.
Even if they are still to establish themselves among the world's top teams, Japan have finished fourth in two of the past three editions of the Games -- narrowly missing out on a coveted medal in both London and on home soil in Tokyo.
But even with the high standards they have set for themselves in recent times, the Paris Olympics are going better than expected.
With two games down and one still to go in the group stage, Japan are just one of two teams to have already booked their place in the quarterfinals -- alongside newly-crowned European champions Spain.
Granted, the Samurai Blue are hardly slouches considering they are one of Asia's traditional powerhouses and currently sit a creditable 18th in the FIFA world rankings.
Yet, the fact that Japan are the only team in the ongoing men's football tournament to have fielded an entirely under-23 team -- opting against turning to the three allowed overage players -- makes their displays so far that much more impressive.
An opening-day 5-0 rout of Paraguay was followed up by a less straightforward 1-0 win over Mali on Saturday evening.
While the emphatic triumph over Paraguay -- which was aided by an early red card for the opposition -- was a display of cohesion and panache, the victory over Mali perhaps gave a stronger indication over the legitimacy of their medal quest.
On this occasion, they faced a much tougher challenge -- especially without a numerical advantage.
It meant that, even though they still tried -- and, at times, managed -- to play with the same sort of expansiveness that they achieved against the Paraguayans, the contest was not always on their terms.
Mali, with plenty of pace down the wings and a direct approach led by spearhead Cheickna Doumbia, also caused the Japanese far more uncomfortable moments than they had endured in their campaign opener.
And still, Japan passed the test -- although it might have been a far different story if Doumbia had not missed an injury-time penalty.
Goalkeeper Leo Kokubo showed why he could be a pivotal figure -- especially for a team that is constanly looking to be on the front foot -- with a series of fine saves.
In the engine room, captain Joel Chima Fujita and Rihito Yamamoto never stopped trying to initiate the brand of football coach Go Oiwa is asking of them, with the latter eventually emerging as the match-winner with an opportunistic strike with just eight minutes remaining.
The Samurai Blue also showed they have decent depth with the likes of Ryotaro Araki and Fuki Yamada coming into the starting XI, while Kein Sato and Shota Fujio again offered an injection of energy coming off the bench.
For a squad bereft of experienced campaigners, the way they grinded out the result was exactly what will be required come the knockout round -- especially if Japan want to claim a first men's football medal since 1968.
If Tuesday's final round of group-stage action plays out as expected, the Japanese should avoid a clash with Spain and will be confident in their prospects regardless of whether it is Egypt or Dominican Republic they meet in the last eight.
Still, it could very likely be Argentina -- boasting notable names such as Julián Álvarez and Nicolás Otamendi -- that will be waiting if they reach the semis.
If they do have to settle for the third place playoff once again, it could easily be hosts France or Spain vying with them for the bronze medal.
The former, in particular, have two formidable overage attackers with Premier League experience in Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta, not to mention young starlets such as Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki and Manu Koné.
Only time will tell if Japan's decision not to bolster their team -- and their medal prospects -- with senior stalwarts of their own will come back to haunt them.
For now, however, their faith in youth is paying off.
- Gabriel Tan
