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Africa Cup of Nations, the most prestigious football (soccer) competition in Africa. It is contested by national teams and is organized by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF). The competition’s format has changed over time, with the number of teams increasing from 3 in 1957 to, after several expansions, 24 in 2019. Growing participation also led to the introduction of qualifying rounds in 1968, the same year that CAF decided to hold the tournament biennially.

The Africa Cup of Nations was first held in February 1957 in Khartoum, Sudan, where Egypt defeated the host nation in the final to win the Abdel Aziz Abdallah Salem Trophy, named after its donor, an Egyptian who was the first CAF president. That trophy was permanently awarded to Ghana in 1978 when it became the first country to win the tournament three times. The next trophy, known as the African Unity Cup, was awarded permanently to Cameroon in 2000 when that team claimed its third championship since 1978. In 2002 a new trophy called the Cup of Nations was introduced.

The competition has served as a showcase for the talents of African players. In the 1950s and ’60s the tournament’s attacking, entertaining style of play seized the imagination of African fans and attracted European talent scouts, agents, and journalists. Under the leadership of Ethiopian Ydnekachew Tessema, CAF president from 1972 until his death in 1987, the cup earned greater international prestige. Professionalism was allowed in 1980 and corporate sponsorships accepted in 1984. Among the cup’s greatest performers are Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon, who holds the record for most career goals scored in the Cup of Nations (18), and Ivorian striker Laurent Pokou, who tallied five goals in a 6–1 victory over Ethiopia in 1970.

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Beyond the boundaries of the playing fields, the Cup of Nations has been a conduit for the articulation of political values and ideas. Having inherited colonial institutions devoid of indigenous symbols of national identity, many independent African governments invested considerable economic and political capital into national football teams in order to elicit pride and build unity among their diverse populations. For example, with the enthusiastic support of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana won the cup in 1963 and 1965. In winning the 1996 tournament at home, South Africa’s racially mixed team seemed to symbolize football’s power to bridge the gaping social and economic inequalities left by apartheid. In contrast, the Algerian government was unable to capitalize on Algeria’s victory in the 1990 Cup of Nations, as fans celebrated the team’s triumph in Algiers by chanting their support for the opposition Islamic Salvation Front. Political tensions violently disrupted the Cup of Nations in 2010: the Togo team bus was attacked by separatist gunmen as it traveled into the Angolan exclave of Cabinda on its way to the tournament; two team officials and the bus driver were killed in the attack, and the Togolese team withdrew from the 2010 Cup of Nations, which was held with 15-team field.

The table provides a list of Africa Cup of Nations winners.

NEW YORK (AP) — This is supposed to be Jessica Pegula’s favorite part of the season. She says so herself.

And why wouldn’t it be?

Pegula gets to stay in North America. She gets to compete in front of friendly and supportive crowds. She gets to play on hard courts, her preferred surface. She gets to point toward success at the U.S. Open, which starts Sunday, and which she’s always loved for all of the above reasons.

Plus, now she can declare that it was the site of her best Grand Slam performance — a run to the final a year ago.

And yet? Well, things have not quite gone according to plan lately for Pegula, a 31-year-old who was born in New York and is based in Florida. She is seeded No. 4 at Flushing Meadows; that’s the good news. Less good? Pegula goes into the U.S. Open having lost four of her most recent six singles matches, including opening-match exits at Wimbledon — her earliest elimination from a major in five years — and Washington last month, and second-round defeats at Montreal and Cincinnati this month.

“I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis. At times, I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don’t like. It really bothers me. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so I don’t like having to say that,” said Pegula, whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

“I feel like I’ve gone through phases in my career — a few tournaments — where I feel like that, sometimes, and you have to figure out how to get out of it and not feel sorry for yourself or make excuses,” she added. “I’ve got to figure it out.”

Her performance at the U.S. Open in 2024 began a series of four consecutive appearances in Grand Slam title matches by women from the U.S., including titles for Madison Keys at the Australian Open and Coco Gauff at the French Open — and changed things for Pegula, personally.

It had to, and not simply because that was the most successful run she had produced in 23 career appearances at major tournaments to that point.

Remember (even if she might prefer not to): Pegula was 0-6 in Grand Slam quarterfinals until upsetting then-No. 1 Iga Swiatek in that round there in rather dominant fashion, winning 6-2, 6-4.

Then Pegula reached her first title match at one of the sport’s four most important events by eliminating 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova in three sets, before losing to current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 7-5 in the U.S. Open final.

“There’s a little bit more pressure,” Pegula said of how her mindset is different this time around, “but at the same time, (there is) a little bit more confidence. Coming into this swing last year, there wasn’t as much pressure, but I also was a little worried about how I would do.”

Photo: Athletics NZ

New Zealand pole vaulter Olivia McTaggart has finished second at the latest World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series event in Budapest.

McTaggart cleared 4.67m behind the winner Tina Sutej of Slovenia, who crossed at a height of 4.73m at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial.

Last month McTaggart produced the performance of her career in winning the Diamond League event in London with a lifetime best of 4.73m.

Fellow New Zealander Imogen Ayris finished sixth in Budapest with a height of 4.51m.

Shotputter Tom Walsh finished second with a distance of 21.52m, behind US rival Joe Kovacs, who achieved a best throw of 22.33m.

Meanwhile Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis continues to take men’s pole vault to another level.

Duplantis broke his own pole vault world record with a clearance of 6.29 metres at the Hungarian Grand Prix meeting – the 13th time he has set a new world mark.

The double-Olympic champion improved on his previous record by one centimetre, with his second attempt, surpassing the mark he set in Stockholm in June.

The 25-year-old first broke the world record in 2020 in Poland, with his leap of 6.17 surpassing the previous record set by Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie six years earlier by one centimetre.

L-R: Claire Thomas, Sarra Elgan, Brian Moore, Katy Daley McLean, Deborah McCormack, Ruby Tui, Philippa Tuttiett, Ugo Monye, Gabby Logan, Maggie Alphonsi, Sonja McLaughlan, Siwan Lillicrap, Sara Orchard, Nicola McCarthy, Simon Middleton and Sene Naoupu

Women’s Rugby World Cup on TV and iPlayer BBC Sport is the exclusive home of live coverage for every match in the tournament. Fans can watch every game live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website/app with full access from kick-off to the final whistle. All group stage matches featuring England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland will be shown live on TV along with every knockout round clash. Leading the charge, Gabby Logan and Ugo Monye head up the presenting team bringing viewers the best of the action from key venues across England. They’re joined by commentary heavyweights Sara Orchard, Andrew Cotter and Claire Thomas, with Sonja McLaughlan, Sarra Elgan and Elma Smit reporting pitch-side. Adding world-class insight are World Cup winners Maggie Alphonsi and Katy Daley-McLean, former England head coach Simon Middleton, and legendary co-commentator Brian Moore, a powerhouse team offering unrivalled expertise and behind-the-scenes perspective. Coverage of the home nations is bolstered by former Wales Captains Siwan Lillicrap and Philippa Tuttiett; Scotland internationals Deborah McCormack and Heather Lockhart and former Irish players Sene Naoupu and Anna Caplice will follow Ireland’s campaign throughout. Bringing a burst of fan energy into the mix, former England 7’s player and current Gladiators superstar Jodie Ounsley will be on site at selected matches, capturing the drama and atmosphere from inside the grounds and following England’s journey throughout the competition.

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 TV and iPlayer Schedule

Date Kick-off Match Location Where to watch 30 August 12pm Canada v Wales Salford Community Stadium BBC Two, iPlayer 30 August 2.45pm Scotland v Fiji Salford Community Stadium BBC Two, iPlayer 30 August 5pm England v Samoa Franklins Gardens, Northampton BBC Two, iPlayer 30 August 7.30pm USA v Australia York Community Stadium iPlayer 31 August 12pm Ireland v Spain Franklins Gardens, Northampton BBC Two, iPlayer 31 August 2pm New Zealand v Japan Sandy Park, Exeter iPlayer 31 August 3.30pm Italy v South Africa York Community Stadium iPlayer 31 August 4.45pm France v Brazil Sandy Park, Exeter iPlayer 06 September 12pm Canada v Scotland Sandy Park, Exeter BBC Two, iPlayer 06 September 1.30pm USA v Samoa York Community Stadium iPlayer 06 September 2.45pm Wales v Fiji Sandy Park, Exeter BBC Two, iPlayer 06 September 5pm England v Australia Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium BBC Two, iPlayer 07 September 12pm Japan v Spain York Community Stadium iPlayer 07 September 2pm Italy v Brazil Franklins Gardens, Northampton iPlayer 07 September 2.45pm New Zealand v Ireland Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium BBC Two, iPlayer 07 September 4.45pm France v South Africa Franklins Gardens, Northampton iPlayer 13 September 12.30pm Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D Sandy Park, Exeter BBC Two, iPlayer 13 September 4pm Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol BBC Two, iPlayer 14 September 12.30pm Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C Sandy Park, Exeter BBC Two, iPlayer 14 September 4pm Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol BBC Two, iPlayer 19 September 7pm Winner QF1 v Winner QF2 Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol BBC Two, iPlayer 20 September 3.30pm Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol BBC One, iPlayer 27 September 12.30pm Runner-Up SF1 v Runner-Up SF2 Twickenham Stadium, London BBC Two, iPlayer 27 September 4pm Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 Twickenham Stadium, London BBC One, iPlayer

Radio and BBC Sounds BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and BBC Sounds have live commentary of every home nation match plus both semi-finals and the final. Meanwhile Sara Orchard and Ugo Monye are on hand regularly throughout the tournament on 5 Live and the chart-topping Rugby Union Weekly podcast. Bringing the big moments to life is the powerhouse 5 Live commentary team Claire Thomas, James Burridge, Oisin Langan, Nick Webb, Thomas Duncan and Gareth Rhys Owen. They’re delivering unmatched insight and pitch-side expertise throughout the tournament. Providing expert insight during England’s campaign are three World Cup winners Kat Merchant, Rachael Burford and Giselle Mather. Expect sharp analysis and big-match breakdowns from those who’ve been there and done it on the biggest stage. Alongside regular editions of the podcast fans can also tune in to a special weekly series throughout the World Cup, Barely Rugby, hosted by comedian Harriet Kemsley and featuring England stars Hannah Botterman and Meg Jones. The show blends insightful rugby chat with personality and humour, adding a fresh twist to the tournament conversation.

BBC Sport website, app & social media Audiences can expect live text commentaries, match reports, in-depth features, exclusive interviews, and highlights across the BBC Sport website and app. In addition to this, there will be behind-the-scenes content, expert analysis and all the biggest moments shared across the BBC’s social media channels. The tournament is part of the BBC’s Women’s Summer of Sport, with a dedicated hub at www.bbc.co.uk/womens-summer-of-sport, celebrating women’s sport through live coverage and special features.

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Miss Universe, a divorced woman in her 20s, won for the first time in Thailand…Beauty in her 30s is the runner-up

A new chapter has opened in the history of the Thai beauty pageant.

Prawina ‘Vina’ Singh (29) from Saraburi, central Thailand, won the crown at the ‘Miss Universe Thailand 2025’ held on the 23rd.

The competition was held at the MGI Hall in Bravo BKK in Bangkok, where 77 participants from all over the country competed fiercely.

Vina’s victory went beyond just a beauty pageant victory and was recorded as a moment in history. A naturalized Thai citizen of Indian descent, she became the first woman to win the title in the history of Miss Universe Thailand. This was made possible by the recent revision of the regulations, which also allowed divorced and married women to participate.

Vina’s challenge has been a difficult journey. He finished third in his first appearance in 2018, second in the 2020 tournament, and unfortunately missed the opportunity by finishing third in 2023. However, she finally came out on top after representing Saraburi this year.

Born on 16 April 1996 in Chiang Mai and raised in Yala, Bina studied Russian at Thammasat University.

She will represent Thailand on stage at the 74th Miss Universe World Congress in Thailand in November.

Meanwhile, Bangkok’s representative Prawenich Luangteng (32) was the runner-up at the tournament, while Phuket’s representative Narumon Pimpakdi (23) took third place.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.