Category: Sports

Yusuf Qaafow, Somali-Australian Pro Basketball Player

Yusuf Qaafow (born June 19, 1987) is a Somali professional basketball player.

At a professional level, he played for the Melbourne Tigers and then the Brisbane Spartans from 2009 until 2017, and has since been a basketball coach running his own academy called the Hard Knockz Academy.

Abdi was born in Somalia and moved to Australia where he began playing basketball at the age of 12.

He opted to represent his country of birth, Somalia national basketball team where he was born in 1987.

As a captain of the Somalia national football team throughout the 2010s, he has served as the nations longest served team captain thus far.

 Qaafow has claimed that he aims to take Somalia back to its team high of 1981 when it won the bronze medal at FIBA Africa, or its stable period in 1992 when Somalia last took part at FIBA Africa before the imminent absent spell for many years thereafter.

source/content: en.wikipedia.org

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pix: hardknockzacademy.com.au

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AUSTRALIAN / SOMALI

Oman’s Ibrahim al Salatni Breaks Asian Free Diving Record

Ibrahim al Salatni has broken the Asian record for free diving, clocking a time of nine minutes and 13 seconds. The previous record of eight minutes and 45 seconds was held by a Chinese national.

Salatni’s record was set at a tournament organised in Egypt held under the umbrella of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

Salatni’s success follows intensive training over five years and he now aims to be among the top ten free divers in the world.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, he said, “The event was held exclusively for me over two days on December 27 to 28 to break the previous record. I’m so happy to break the previous record. I dedicate this achievement to my country.

“It was not easy to set this record. Ever since I began free diving as a hobby in 2014, my aim was to achieve a record for Oman, and now I have achieved that goal. I am looking for even more.”

He also holds the national, Arab and continental records in static apnea – holding breath under water – of eight minutes and seven seconds, and the national and GCC record in dynamic apnea (dynamic with fins and dynamic without fins), diving 150m underwater in one breath.

Free diving is practised without the use of any breathing apparatus. “You dive holding your breath to save oxygen.”

His future plans include participating in the World Free Diving Championship that will be held in Bulgaria in 2022 where he aims for a podium finish.

source/content: muscatdaily.com

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OMAN

Tunisian Hannibal Mejbri Elected Football’s ‘African Revelation of the Year’

Hannibal Mejbri was elected African revelation of the year by the magazine FootAfrica’s editorial staff

And this following over 469,00 votes.

“A rising star in African football, named after a Carthaginian hero destined for conquest, Hannibal Mejbri has developed several high-profile performances in the last twelve months, most notably reaching the final of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 in his national jersey (lost 0-2 to Algeria),” the magazine continues.

Voting results:

  • Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia / 18 years old): 55.64%
  • Adem Zorgane (Algeria / 21 years old): 35.88%
  • Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso / 22 years old): 4.24%
  • Mohamed Camara (Mal / 21 years old): 1.80%
  • Bamba Dieng (Senegal / 21 years old): 0.92%
  • Zakaria Aboukhlal (Morocco / 21 years old): 0.85%
  • Momo Bayo (Guinea / 23 years old): 0.37%
  • Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast / 19 years old): 0.09%
  • Silas Katompa (DRC / 23 years old): 0.08%
  • Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana / 19 years old): 0.07%
  • Terem Moffi (Nigeria / 22 years old): 0.06%
  • Jean Onana (Cameroon / 21 years old): 0.03%

source/content: carthangemagazine.com

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pix: carthagemagazine.com

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TUNISIA

Saudi Rally World Champ, Yazeed Al-Rajhi Honored at FIA World Cup Prize Ceremony in France : December 2021

Yazeed Al-Rajhi (aka) Yazeed Mohamed Al-Rajhi. Rally Driver. Saudi Businessman.

Saudi rally champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi has been honored for winning the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas title for the first time in his career.

The 40-year-old racer received his award during a prize-giving ceremony at the Carrousel du Louvre, in Paris, after becoming the first driver from the Kingdom to achieve the title in the highest rallying class, along with co-driver Michael Orr of Ireland.

The ceremony in France was attended by 800 driving champions, rising stars, and guests from around the world who saw Jean Todt, ex-president of the International Automobile Federation, hand Al-Rajhi the trophy.

Having claimed the title with Toyota Hilux, Al-Rajhi also thanked official sponsor Abdul Latif Jameel Motors for its unlimited support throughout the season.

His achievement was not only a personal one but also a landmark for Saudi motorsport, as he became the first driver from the country to be honored at the level by the FIA.

source/content: arabnews.com

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Yazeed Al-Rajhi is the winner of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas title for the first time. (Frédéric Le Floch/DPPI) / arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

UAE’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem appointed President of World Motorsport. First non-European to be elected as FIA President : December 2021

Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been elected President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) following the FIA Annual General Assembly gathered in Paris , on December 17th, 2021

Mohammed Ben Sulayem of the UAE will be the first non-European president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), motorsport’s world governing body.

The 60-year-old Dubai-born former rally driver was standing against British lawyer Graham Stoker, who has been Todt’s deputy president for sport since 2009.

The FIA is the governing body for Formula One, the World Rally Championship, World Endurance, and Formula E among other series. “The votes are in and we’ve won. We are thrilled that 62% of all clubs have given us their vote,” said Ben Sulayem’s ‘FIA for Members’ campaign on Twitter. An FIA spokesman confirmed the result.

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pix: fia.com

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Bahrain’s KHK team Wins ‘Al Maktoum Cup 30-foot Rowing Race” – 2nd successive year : December 24th, 2021

Bahrain’s representative, KHK team, were crowned champions of the Al Maktoum Cup 30-foot rowing race, organised by the Dubai International Marine Club at the Dubai Water Canal today.

Captained by Nakhuda Ahmed Nasser Al Busmait, the team were also winners of the previous edition of the most precious cup of the traditional Arabian Gulf rowing sport.

source/content: bna.bh

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BAHRAIN

Algeria Beat Tunisia 2-0 to Claim 2021 FIFA Arab Cup Title in Qatar : December 18th, 2021

Algeria defeated Tunisia 2-0 to lift the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup trophy in Qatar on Saturday, in a hard-fought final between the two North African giants.

It took a spectacular strike from Amir Sayoud after 99 minutes to break the deadlock in a tight game that had been goalless at the end of normal time. Yacine Brahimi then sealed the win with the final kick.

Earlier on Saturday, Qatar took third place ahead of Egypt, winning a penalty shootout 5-4 after 120 minutes of football ended goalless. Mohamed Sherif was the one to miss the target for Egypt.

source/content: arabnews.com

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Algeria’s goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi lifts the trophy as they celebrate winning the Arab Cup Final against Tunisia at Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Saturday. (Reuters) / arabnews.com

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ALGERIA

UAE bag two silver medals at Asian Karate Championships 2021 in Kazakhstan : December 22nd, 2021

AE bagged two silver medals at the Asian Karate Championships 2021 hosted by Kazakhstan on December 18-22.

UAE female Karate player Salwa Ahmed Al Mansouri won the Kumite silver for the +59kg category, while Mohamed Ahmed Al Ameri got the same in the Men’s Kumite +76kg.

Major General Nasser Al Razooqi, Vice President of World Karate Federation, and President of UAE and Asian Karate Federations, congratulated the players for their distinctive performance at the prestigious continental championship.

source/content: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Ons Jabeur, First Arab to Win at Mubadala Tennis Championship : December 16th, 2021

Tunisian world No 10 defeated Belinda Bencic in the one-off women’s match.

Ons Jabeur said it was a dream to compete at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship after the Tunisian world No 10 became the first Arab player to win at the pre-season tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Jabeur defeated Switzerland’s Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in a third set championship tie-break 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in an entertaining match .

“It’s amazing to be here in Abu Dhabi; to be here in an Arab country, representing Tunisia, representing the Arab world. I’m so glad I had this opportunity, so I’m really grateful for that.”

Jabeur is accustomed to creating new milestones for Arab tennis. After becoming the first Arab female player to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at the 2020 Australian Open, Jabeur emulated her feat at Wimbledon in July – two weeks after becoming the first Arab player to win a WTA Tour title.

The world No 10, who reached a career-high No 7 last month, is the highest-ranked Arab player, female or male, in tennis history.

source/content: thenationalnews.com

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Ons Jabeur of Tunisia at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Victor Besa/The National.- thenationalnews.com

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TUNISIA

Oman’s Hamad Al Riyami Wins ‘Best Jockey’ title at International Tent Pegging Championships : December 2021

The Omani jockey Hamad Al Riyami won the title of best jockey in the championship after topping the overall ranking points

Hamad Al Riyami is the best jockey and Oman national team is second at the conclusion of the International Tent Pegging championships in Duqm, Al Wusta Governorate.

In the overall ranking of the championship, the Iraqi team came first, the Sultanate of Oman ranked second, and Sudan ranked third. .

source/content : timesofoman.com

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Supplied Image / timesofoman.com

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OMAN

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