Photo @Official-NFA

Mary Keitany, the world record holder in a women marathon, speaks during an interview with Reuters as she takes part in the 2019 Athletes Annual Conference in Eldoret, Kenya. December 4, 2019. Photo REUTERS/Njeri Mwangi

(Reuters) - Kenya’s Mary Keitany, the world record holder for a women-only marathon, announced her retirement on Wednesday at the age of 39 due to a back injury.

Keitany set the record in her third London Marathon win in 2017, finishing in a time of two hours 17 minutes and one second. Her compatriot Brigid Kosgei and Briton Paula Radcliffe are the only two women to have run a marathon quicker, having done so in mixed gender races.

Keitany said the COVID-19 pandemic had denied her the chance to receive treatment for a back injury sustained in 2019.

"I'm sad to say, a back injury that I suffered in late 2019 made a decision about my retirement for me," Keitany said in a statement here.

“I couldn’t get the treatment I wanted in Europe because of the pandemic-related travel restrictions last year and every time I thought I had got over the injury and started training hard, it became a problem again.

“So now is the time to say goodbye -- if only as an elite runner - to the sport I love so much.”

Keitany won the New York Marathon four times, including three consecutive victories between 2014-16, and the world half marathon title in 2009. She finished fourth at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. - Hritika Sharma, Reuters

Photo via KingFut

Al Masry discovered their round of 32 opponents in the CAF Confederation Cup as Uganda Revenue Authority defeated Ethiopian Coffee Addis Abeba.

Al Masry are no strangers to the CAF Confederation Cup as they participated in four consecutive editions from 2016/17 to 2019/20.

Despite finishing Egyptian Premier League season in fifth place, Al Masry qualified alongside Pyramids as they were fourth on the table by the time EFA sent the participating clubs list.

In their search for their first African title, Al Masry are going to be facing Uganda Revenue Authority who have achieved easy victories over Ethiopian Coffee Addis Abeba with the result of 5-1 on aggregate.

Uganda Revenue Authority have won both home and away games, first 2-0 in Uganda, then 3-1 in Ethiopia.

The round of 32 first leg will be taking place on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of October, and the second leg will be happening a week later.

If Al Masry pass their first hurdle, they will be clashing with the CAF Champions League round of 32 disqualified clubs in the next round. - Ahmad Gamal Ali, KingFut