Five Sports Records Held By Africans That May Never Be Broken
The record books are littered with names from the African continent, setting some of the most mind-boggling records which we are about to explore.
We bring to you five unique records held by Africans that may never be broken:
SERGE DJIEHOUA – FASTEST RED CARD
Ivorian striker, Serge Djiéhoua, is not a household name by any means. Lots of fans might struggle to remember him, but he has managed to write his name in football history forever, albeit for the wrong reasons.
Djiéhoua holds the record for the fastest ever red card in football history when he was dismissed just 3 seconds after coming on as a substitute in 2013.
Greek second division side Gylfadas were trailing Olympiakos Volos 3-1 when Djieouha was brought in but he was sent straight back the other way after catching his opponent with his right arm, a record that may never be broken.
ELIUD KIPCHOGE – SUB TWO HOUR MARATHON
Probably the most famous long-distance runner of all time, Eliud Kipchoge, has numerous records, including winning 8 of the 9 marathons he’s participated in, coming 2nd only on one occasion.
He set a new world record in 2018 at the Berlin marathon which he won in 2:02:57 but it was his record at the Ineos 1:59 challenge that puts him on this list.
In October 2019, Kipchoge set out to become the first man in history to complete a marathon in under 2 hours, a feat which he achieved in 1:59:40 in Austria.
Although it wasn’t officially accepted by the IAAF as the new world record because of the event was set up, it went into the Guinness book of records as the fastest marathon ever run by any man.
SADIO MANE – FASTEST HAT TRICK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY
Senegalese football star, Sadio Mane, is most known for his impact in Liverpool’s resurgence as a dominant force in English football. Before winning multiple championships with Liverpool, he already wrote his name in the history books.
On the 16th of May 2015, while playing for Southampton against Aston Villa, Sadio Mane scored the fastest hat trick in Premier League history, breaking Robbie Fowler’s record after 21 years.
Mane scored three goals within the space of 2 minutes and 56 seconds, as Southampton thrashed Aston Villa, shattering the previous record held by Fowler in 4 minutes 33 seconds, safe to say Mane’s might never get beaten.
EFE AJAGBA – FASTEST WIN IN BOXING HISTORY
Nigerian boxer Efe Ajagba holds the record for the fastest win in boxing history, a record he got under peculiar circumstances which may never occur again.
Coming off the back of four consecutive knockouts, Efe Ajagba was about to fight Curtis Harper in a much anticipated heavyweight bout. The bells rang to start the fight, and Harper walked out of the ring, just 1 second after the bell rang, leading to a disqualification and a record win for Ajagba.
Reports say Harper walked out in protest of the financial aspect of the fight, but he did so after the bell rung, which meant the fight had officially started and the result stood.
ROGER MILLA – OLDEST PLAYER TO SCORE AT THE WORLD CUP
At age 30, most players get close to retirement, and when it comes to the World Cup, the biggest stages of them all, most players that represent their country at age 30 or more are either goalkeepers or defenders.
Not so in the case of Roger Milla who appeared in two World Cups at age 38 and 42 representing the Cameroonian National Team.
What more?
At the 1990 World Cup, at age 38, Roger Milla became the oldest player to score at the World Cup
Four years later, at 42, Roger Milla broke his own record by scoring against Russia, setting a new record as the oldest player to score in a World Cup match.
That record has stood for 26 years now, and it will be a rarity to see anyone break that record, not least anyone achieving it twice