标签： Africa

In a remarkable display of mental fortitude and technical precision, Italy’s Ludovico Addabbo secured his maiden professional victory at the Aroeira Challenge, the inaugural event of the 2025-26 MENA Golf Tour season. The 27-year-old, who began the tournament ranked 1,909th globally, demonstrated championship composure throughout the competition held at PGA Aroeira near Lisbon.

Addabbo’s triumph was built upon three consistently brilliant rounds: an opening 66, followed by 67, and culminating in a spectacular final-round 65. His 18-under-par total of 198 secured a decisive three-stroke victory over Portuguese favorite Pedro Figueiredo, earning him the $18,000 top prize from the $100,000 purse.

The Italian’s victory was particularly impressive given the pressure of entering the final round with a one-shot lead. He immediately established control with birdies on the second and third holes, effectively neutralizing any early tension. His performance peaked on the 17th hole with a stunning chip-in birdie that virtually sealed his breakthrough win.

“I’m incredibly happy,” Addabbo expressed after being celebrated by fellow players on the 18th green. “I anticipated more nerves, but maintaining presence throughout the round proved crucial. I deliberately avoided leaderboard checks until the 17th to prevent unnecessary pressure.”

Local contender Figueiredo thrilled home crowds with a dramatic eagle on the 17th from the rough, securing solo second place with a 15-under total. Scotland’s Sebastian Sandin, who shared the first-round lead with Addabbo, saw his challenge diminish with three bogeys in the final four holes, finishing third at 13-under.

Tour commissioner Keith Waters praised Addabbo’s performance: “Ludovico delivered an outstanding round and handled pressure like a true champion. The celebration with his Italian peers on the final green perfectly captured the MENA Tour’s spirit.”

The tournament saw 46 players finish under par, with Q School winner Chris Wood tying for seventh at 10-under. The tour continues in Portugal with the Rolear Algarve Classic at Amendoeira Course from December 2-4, before moving to Egypt and Morocco in the new year.

In an extraordinary display of precision and nerve, professional basketball marksman Chris Matthews successfully executed a record-breaking basket from a helicopter hovering over 100 feet above Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah. The aerial spectacle, performed on November 28, 2025, demonstrated remarkable coordination between athlete and pilot under challenging atmospheric conditions.

The daring attempt required Matthews to maintain intense focus while positioned at the helicopter’s open doorway, with legs suspended above the iconic artificial archipelago. Despite significant wind interference and aircraft vibration, the athlete delivered a perfect shot into a ground-positioned hoop after meticulous aerial positioning by pilot Captain Husam Gamal.

Matthews immediately credited the aviation expert for the achievement, stating the pilot contributed “90 percent of the work” through continuous hover adjustments and stabilization maneuvers. The wind conditions presented particular challenges, with Matthews describing the experience as “trying to aim a paper in a storm” due to atmospheric forces affecting ball trajectory.

The demonstration served as a promotional highlight coinciding with Dubai’s hosting of the Red Bull Half Court World Final, an international basketball tournament featuring competitors from multiple continents. Matthews emphasized the symbolic nature of the stunt, intended to showcase basketball’s universal appeal across diverse environments and skill levels.

Following the successful attempt, Matthews expressed particular appreciation for Dubai’s aerial landscape, describing the Palm Jumeirah as “splendid” and the city as a “visual treat” from elevation. The achievement represents one of the most remarkable basketball shots ever attempted under non-traditional conditions.

In an unprecedented move that blends sports with international diplomacy, the Iranian Football Federation has declared a formal boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw. This decisive action comes as a direct response to the United States’ refusal to grant entry visas to several key members of Iran’s delegation scheduled to attend the event in Washington, D.C.

The Federation’s spokesperson publicly confirmed the boycott on Iranian state television, stating, ‘We have formally notified FIFA that these decisions are devoid of sporting spirit. Consequently, our delegation will not participate in the World Cup draw.’ Reports from the Iranian sports outlet Varzesh 3 earlier indicated that Federation President Mehdi Taj was among those denied visas.

Taj condemned the US decision as overtly political, revealing he had appealed directly to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. ‘We have communicated to Mr. Infantino that this is a purely political stance. FIFA must insist that the US refrains from such conduct,’ Taj asserted. Interestingly, visas were reportedly approved for four other delegation members, including team coach Amir Ghalenoei, highlighting the selective nature of the denials.

This incident revives the long-standing, tense history between the two nations, which has previously spilled onto the football pitch. Iran’s celebrated 2-1 victory over the US in the 1998 World Cup remains a historic moment, later avenged by the Americans with a 1-0 win in the 2022 tournament. The 2026 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The geopolitical context adds profound complexity to the dispute. The nations have been entrenched in conflict for over four decades. High-level nuclear talks that commenced in April had offered a fragile hope for diplomacy but collapsed abruptly in mid-June following a military offensive by Israel against Iran. This conflict escalated into a 12-day war, which saw the US briefly engage with airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, further severing the already fragile relations between Tehran and Washington.