The opening month of 2026 saw the dramatic and controversial conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The hosts took on Senegal in the final in Rabat, a match that descended into chaos deep into stoppage time. With the score at 0–0, Morocco was awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Senegal was outraged and the majority of the team stormed off the pitch, leading to a 14-minute delay. When they were eventually convinced to return, Morocco’s star forward Brahim Diaz fluffed a ‘Panenka’ penalty, resulting in the easiest of saves for goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. It got worse for the home side in extra time, as Pape Gueye scored a stunning goal to win Senegal their second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years. SNTV had news coverage throughout the tournament, including training sessions and interviews with the top players.
The month also marked the start of a new era for Formula 1, with teams taking part in their first official testing session in Barcelona under the new regulations. SNTV was the only agency to have exclusive access to the session.
The month finished with the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, the Australian Open. Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to become the youngest man ever to win all four Grand Slams. In the women’s final, Elena Rybakina came from a breakdown in the final set to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. SNTV delivered highlights and reaction throughout the tournament, covering key storylines including Naomi Osaka’s bold fashion statement, extreme temperatures reaching 40°C, and a number of injuries and early retirements.
February’s highlights include Super Bowl LX, the Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, plus the Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
Regards,
Andrew Parkinson
Managing Editor
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