Egypt win Africa Cup of Nations

Substitute Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagui scored in the 85th minute at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final to defeat Ghana 1-0 on Sunday in Luanda. It is the Pharaohs’ seventh continental trophy and third on the trot, which is a new Cup of Nations record. Well done Pharoahs and congratulations to my mates from Egypt, that I had many years of soccer fun with.

Serena Williams wins Australian Open

Steely-eyed Serena Williams stared down Justin Henin to spoil the Belgian’s fairytale comeback and claim a modern-day record fifth Australian Open crown on Saturday night. In the first-ever grand slam final featuring the two most successful women’s players of their generation, Williams’s awesome power won over Henin’s grace and style as the world No.1 carved out a gutsy 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory at Rod Laver Arena. The two-hour, seven-minute triumph gave Williams a perfect five-from-five record in finals at Melbourne Park and eclipsed the four Open titles that Margaret Smith Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles each won in the professional era.

Australia defeat Pakistan by 25 runs in under-19 World Cup final

Australia have heaped more cricketing misery on Pakistan, this time at the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, Mitchell Marsh's men winning the final by 25 runs. The star for Australia was pace bowler Josh Hazelwood who took 4-30, including the final scalp of Raza Hasan, in a man-of-the-match performance after his side were forced to defend a lowly 207. Luke Doran contributed 3-32 as Pakistan were dismissed for 182 with 20 balls remaining. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... Oi, Oi, Oi!

Kurt Warner calls an end to NFL career

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has announced his retirement from a fairytale NFL career. Warner, 38, announced his retirement after a dozen years in the NFL - a league in which he rose from gridiron obscurity to become a potential Hall of Famer. Warner took the lowly St Louis Rams to the Super Bowl twice - winning the NFL's championship spectacular in the 1999/2000 season. He surprised again in leading Arizona to the Super Bowl a year ago, where the Cardinals fell to Pittsburgh. Kurt, you are a legend, and I will do everything in my power to make sure you are elected to the NFL Hall of Fame (which of course is nothing, but it's the thought that counts).

Vikes and Favre lose a heartbreaker

Battered and beaten, Brett Favre(notes) limped off the field for perhaps the final time. His head down, the pained look on his face was brought on as much by a head-scratching turnover as it was by a bone-crunching hit from Bobby McCray. With the NFC championship game tied, the Minnesota Vikings close to field goal range and mere seconds left, Favre made the kind of mistake he had avoided all season. He committed the No. 1 no-no for an NFL quarterback when he threw the ball late and back over the middle toward Sidney Rice(notes), and Tracy Porter(notes) stepped in front to intercept the pass Sunday. New Orleans won the coin toss in overtime, and before Favre could take the field, Drew Brees(notes) drove them into position for Garrett Hartley’s(notes) winning field goal that gave the Saints a 31-28 victory and their first Super Bowl berth. So close and yet so far!

Celebrate Australians 'of substance', not celebrity, Adam Gilchrist urges

Australia Day Council chairman Adam Gilchrist has urged the nation to abandon its obsession with celebrity culture in favour of "Australians of substance". More than 30 former Australians of the Year last night gathered for a commemorative dinner at Parliament House in Canberra with Governor-General Quentin Bryce to mark the 50th anniversary of the awards. Personally I could not agree more, what a great message.

Racing driver Jack Brabham, one of the earliest winners of the title, mixed with Aboriginal advocates Mick Dodson and Lowitja O'Donoghue in the black-tie clad, bemedalled throng; entrepreneur and adventurer Dick Smith with Nobel laureate Peter Doherty. Soldiers, sportsmen and scientists were there -- and everyone in between. "How important these men and women are to us in imagining who we are and we might be," Ms Bryce said, "in giving us picture, never a prescription, of what it means to be Australian. Gilchrist praised the winners as "role models of substance" and a bulwark against the culture of celebrity.

Togo Soccer Team Leaves Tournament After Gun Attack

Hosting the African Cup of Nations was Angola's chance to show it is recovering from decades of war, but tragedy struck as gunmen sprayed bullets at Togo's national team, killing three people and forcing its withdrawal from the soccer tournament. Africa's main soccer tournament was expected to open as planned on Sunday, even though players from other countries expressed shock at the ambush on the Togo team bus as it traveled through Angola's restive oil-rich Cabinda province. Man, it's tough playing soccer in Africa!

Mexico Cartel Stitches Rival's Face on Soccer Ball

The body of 36-year-old Hugo Hernandez was left on the streets of Los Mochis in seven pieces as a chilling threat to members of the Juarez drus cartel. A note read: ''Happy New Year, because this will be your last.'' To drive home the point, the assailants skinned Hernandez's face and stitched it onto a soccer ball. It's tough working in Mexico!

Aussies do it to Pakistan again

Australia pulled off a stunning second Test victory over Pakistan at the SCG, bowling the tourists out for 139 to win by 36 runs and clinch the series. Chasing a modest 176 to secure their first win over Australia in 14 years, the tourists collapsed badly under intense pressure from the ever-improving Australia attack.

Spinner Nathan Hauritz took five for 53, including an astonishing caught and bowled to claim captain Mohammad Yousuf, with Mitchell Johnson claiming three for 27. Doug Bollinger chipped in with two wickets while Peter Siddle bowled his heart out without reward after his earlier heroics with the bat had helped bring Australia back from the dead.

The hosts trailed by 206 runs on the first innings but revived their hopes with 381 second-innings runs, largely thanks to 97 from Shane Watson and an unlikely 123-run ninth-wicket partnership between Mike Hussey (134 not out) and Siddle (38). Only twice in 132 years has Australia come back from a bigger deficit to snatch victory.