Nigerian striker, Paul Onuachu is getting married to his heartthrob from Ghana, Tracy Acheampong in Lagos on Sunday.

The couple started dating during Onuachu’s days at Danish Super Liga club FC Midtjylland. Onuachu got engaged to Acheampong in Paris, France in January, 2022.

They officially got married in May in Ghana. Nigerians and Ghanaians came together at the beautiful ceremony as they witnessed the nuptials between both lovebirds.

The second reception however is scheduled to take place today in Lagos.

His Super Eagles’ teammates are also expected to be in attendance. Samuel Kalu, Chidera Ejuke and Frank Onyeka were present at the traditional wedding in Ghana.

The couple started their relationship during Onuachu’s days at Danish Super Liga club FC Midtylland. Onuachu got engaged to Acheampong in Paris, France in January, 2022.

Onuachu was the best player in Belgium two seasons ago after he scored 33 goals in 38 Jupiler League appearances winning the Belgian Golden boot.

Plateau United trio Andrew Ikefe, Jesse Akila and Nenrot Silas remain confident of winning the NPFL title despite being nine points with a game in hand behind leaders Rivers United, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 2017 Nigerian Professional Football League champions must win their remaining five fixtures and hope Rivers United falter in their next four games.

Plateau United will host Gombe United in Jos while their title rivals Rivers United are away to Rangers International of Enugu in Awka.

Defender Ikefe believes Plateau’s next two games will determine their title chance this season.

“A nine-point gap is massive no matter how you look at it, but we will not give up yet. Football isn’t mathematics, as you know, so we will keep pushing until it is impossible again,” Ikefe told npfl.ng.

“We are still fighting, there is still hope, but we will only give up based on the outcome of the next two games, that is when we will feel it is over.

“For us, if we win our next home game (vs Gombe United) we are very sure of second place then after the next two we will know our fate, but we are not giving up,” he added.

Akila was also equivocal about his team’s title chances as he suggested the chase isn’t over yet.

Akila, who has scored eight goals for Plateau United this season, feels there is more to come from this season as the title has not been lost yet by his team

“We haven’t given up yet because mathematically we still have hope because I learnt Rivers have two away games,” Akila told npfl.ng.

“We are hoping they drop points there, and then we see how it goes, but be rest assured that we are still fighting.”

Silas, who has been a mainstay in the team this season also revealed the mood in the team is one of hope as it isn’t over until it is over.

“It is football, it is never over until it is over. There is always a chance, and that is what I believe.

“Despite how the table looks at the moment, we at Plateau United will continue to believe it is doable as we are still fighting for the title,” he added.

FIFA on Thursday night revealed the 16 stadiums across three countries that will host the expanded World Cup in 2026.

Eleven of the stadiums are in the United States while Canada have two. The remaining three are in Mexico which becomes the first country to host the World Cup three times after that of 1970 and 1986.

Of the 16 stadiums, one of them, the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be the most breath taking.

It has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. It’s a jewel of technology and innovation. It’s the most modern stadium on the planet.

What makes it unique is the impressive retractable roof which was  installed. The roof is composed of eight petals weighting 500 tons each. It opens up to the magnificent city of Atlanta. It is inspired by the falcon’s wing, the bird that represents the local NFL team.

There is a 360 degree screen spread over 120sqm. The stadium can hold up to 71,000 people. Inaugurated in August 2017, it has already hosted big sporting events.

Construction started in May 2014 and it ended up costing enormous cost of $1.5 billion. This is the result. In 2026, the Mercedes Benz Stadium will be one of the venues for the World Cup which will be hosted by US, Mexico and Canada.

It will host six matches including a semi-final. The atmosphere is going to be incredible.

The roof was inaugurated at the end of July 2018 and 60,000 curious fans were present for the Falcons first training session. The Super bowl 2019 will also take place in this incredible arena along with the biggest concerts.

But that’s not all. People who visit the stadium outside match days can walk on the roof for an incredible view of Atlanta. They can also walk along the suspended bridges at the stadium or enjoy one of the restaurants.

Lastly, the Mercedes Benz Stadium has already broken a record. It is officially the most eco-friendly stadium in the world with 4,000 solar panels among other features.  It is the stadium of the future.

Nigeria striker Asisat Oshoala says her side is looking beyond facing title rivals South Africa at this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The record nine-time African champions will open their 2022 WAFCON campaign just as they ended the last edition against 2018 runners-up Banyana Banyana, having been pitted in Group C, alongside Botswana, and Burundi. 

The Super Falcons bowed twice in last three meetings with South African since 2018 but the Barcelona star insists her side is underestimating no side, including Desiree Ellis’ team in their quest for another record-extending 10th continental crown.

“I don’t think the opening game is a decider of the tournament, and by the way, its not only South Africa we will be facing. It’s a whole tournament,” Oshoala told CAFOnline.com.

“We are not going to be seated talking tough about just one team [South Africa]. Obviously, they are a very strong team, a very competitive one as well. Maybe the mindset of our team and theirs may not be the same, but we have the likes of Cameroon, Morroco, and other great teams in Africa to face. 

“We are just basically focused on working on ourselves and we are not so bothered about playing South Africa. When we get to the phase of playing them, we will cross it.”

Despite an injury-hit season, Oshoala won Spain’s Pichichi prize with 20 goals, becoming the first African woman to do so and second African after Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o with Barcelona.

Ahead of her fifth WAFCON appearance, the four-time African Women’s Player of the Year is upbeat about replicating her Barcelona’s goalscoring impact for Nigeria in Morocco, while opening up on her personal and Super Falcons’ ambitions.

“I think its been a rollercoaster of different emotions, i’ve had good times and bad times, with injuries and all of that. It is just a mixed feeling for me this season,” the 2014 WAFCON best player and 2016 topscorer, continued.

“As usual, i’m in the competition mode, i’m excited, working hard for the tournament, after couple of years and after being cancelled the last time [2020], we are set for the big one again

“First of all, I think we need to understand football, talking about shifting focus and replicating the same performances, I am always ready to give 100 per cent whenever I am given the opportunity to play. I am in a positive mood going into the tournament.

“For me personally, the main goal is to qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, because, at the end of the day, that is all that matters and every other thing coming after or with it is just secondary. The primary aim is to qualify, of course, we want to win [WAFCON] but the main goal is to qualify for the World Cup.”

The Super Falcons began final preparation in Abuja on Wednesday, June 15 and are scheduled to face South Africa in their tournament’s opening match at Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on July 4.

The former General  Secretary of the Nigeria Football Association, NFF, Sani Ahmed Toro has been abducted by unknown men. He was reportedly abducted along with a former assistant coach of Super Eagles Garba Yila.

According to accounts obtained, both were abducted  while on their way from Abuja to Bauchi after attending the wedding ceremony of a son of former NFF President Aminu Maigari.

 One of the victims’ son, Nasiru Sani Toro,  confirmed that his father along two others were kidnapped while returning from Abuja on  Saturday night.

According to him, the victim’s phone number is switch off, and their kidnappers have not yet reached the family members for any ransom as at the time of filling this report.

The Bauchi State police command has not issued any statement on the issue.

Rafael Nadal says he intends to play Wimbledon after having treatment for his chronic foot problem.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion had said he would not keep playing if he continued to need anaesthetic injections in his left foot.

However, the Spaniard had treatment last week to reduce nerve pain and is planning to play Wimbledon, which begins on 27 June.

“The last week of training tells me there is a chance,” Nadal, 36, said.

“My intention is to play at Wimbledon.”

He said he would travel to London on Monday and play in the exhibition event at Hurlingham, which begins on Tuesday.

The two-time Wimbledon champion has been practising on the grass courts in Mallorca to test his fitness.

“I’m happy, I haven’t been limping for a week,” Nadal said.

“I have noticed changes with the treatment – I still have strange sensations, sometimes I can’t feel my foot, but the pain that did not allow me to support my weight on my foot has subsided

Nadal has a rare degenerative condition called Muller-Weiss syndrome, which affects the bones in the feet, and last year feared his career was over because of the condition.

However, he started the year in stunning fashion, winning the Australian Open to secure a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title.

He then went on to win a record-extending 14th French Open title last month but needed multiple injections in his foot throughout the tournament.

Nadal underwent radiofrequency ablation treatment – a procedure which uses heat on the nerve to quell long-term pain – after returning from Paris last week.

He missed last year’s Wimbledon to give his body time to rest after his loss in the French Open semi-finals.

He reached the last four on his last appearance at Wimbledon in 2019, with the 2020 tournament cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I haven’t played on grass for three years and I have to adapt,” Nadal said.

“Every day I have been recovering sensations and feeling better. I have a week left before playing and I have to test myself little by little.”

A Formula 1 race in South Africa is not an expensive luxury but would provide wider benefits, says the man bidding for the sport’s return to the country.

Warren Scheckter, the nephew of Africa’s only F1 champion Jody Scheckter, who won the title in 1979, is involved in negotiations as chief executive of South African Grand Prix.

F1 president Stefano Domenicali flew to South Africa this week to meet with representatives off Kayla circuit which could host the race. 

The country could be on the calendar as soon as next year, with hopes F1 will return to the continent for the first time since 1993 when Alain Prost won at Kyalami, which is just outside Johannesburg.

“You need to have a look at what a Formula 1 event actually does for a country,” Warren Scheckter told BBC Sport Africa.

“Everyone looks at it as just a very glamorous sport, but the reality of what it does for a country is it creates a huge uplift.

“From an economic standpoint, you can see what it’s done for events around around the globe. There’s a huge contribution to GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

“It’s billions of [South African] rand of contribution to GDP, it creates thousands of jobs, brings in tens of thousands of tourists and essentially creates a huge economic stimulus for the country.”

Scheckter stressed that both government and many businesses were financially backing the project. 

Race can fund ‘other initiatives’

Scheckter was also keen to point out that the benefits of hosting an F1 race are not restricted to the few days around the event.

“Formula 1 comes back every single year for many, many years and even in between those events, there’s a lot of activity – development programmes and things of that nature,” he explained.

“So it really is bringing so much to the community and the country. It is such an uplift for the country as a whole, that it absolutely is worth the investment.

“There will be more funding for all those other initiatives that the country sorely needs – more housing development, schools, healthcare and things of that nature. More inflow of currency into the economy and uplifting the economy.”

Political pistons

Scheckter, who founded the South African Grand Prix company, added that the vast majority of the project’s financial backing stems from businesses.

“This initiative is predominantly funded by the private sector, so that’s very important to understand,” he stressed.

“Certainly there is government support for this. The way government is supporting it is through a national tourism levy, which is helping to fund the event.”

The current F1 World Championship features races around the globe but not in Africa, something the sport’s owners Liberty Media are keen to change.

“As a global sport, it’s very important to have a race in every continent and Africa is the last continent that Formula 1 is not on,” Scheckter said.

“I think it is very important for [Liberty Media], it’s also important as far as growing the sport. Africa is a very important market for Formula 1 with a population of over 1.3bn people.

“It will offer the opportunity to a lot more people to get involved in the sport – for all demographics, not only from a fan standpoint, but also from a participant standpoint as well.”

Jody Scheckter, who won 10 races from 1972-1980 and who bowed out a year after winning his title with Ferrari, is the last African to have contested an F1 race. 

Work to be done – but backing from Hamilton

Despite talks with Domenicali appearing to be progressing promisingly, Warren Scheckter said any confirmation of a race in South Africa is still a few months away.

“I think the conversations all went very, very well. There’s still lots of work to be done to make this a reality,” he explained.

“There are so many stakeholders involved in an event of this magnitude that there are a lot of deals that have to be done for the proverbial final deal to be done.

“The stumbling blocks are essentially being able to get all of that done in a very short period of time.

“I can’t give an exact date of when we can have definitive things in place, but it has to be in the next few months. So time is tight.”

One man keen to see F1 in South Africa again is Britain’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

“The place that I really feel is dear to my heart and most important to get a race back is in South Africa,” the 37-year-old said recently.

“There is a great following out there and I think it would be great to be able to highlight just how beautiful the motherland is.”

Scheckter says Hamilton voicing support has been “very helpful” in their efforts to secure a race.

“Someone like Lewis has such a huge audience, huge following and incredible reach,” Scheckter enthused.

“He has such great power and is able to influence perception for the sport. It’s highlighted how much there is a desire for a South African Grand Prix.

“Lewis is looking to the future and even while he’s racing, it’d be fantastic to have him in support of the event, and also all the development programmes and initiatives we’re going to have in and around the event.

“We want to create more opportunities for new people to get involved in the sport – from an education standpoint, an engineering standpoint and giving access to people to be able to try and get involved as drivers as well.”

It was a masterclass from Verstappen, who looked in a league of his own whenever he competed a lap throughout the session.

Starting from pole, he now has a golden opportunity to inflict maximum damage on Leclerc in the championship, as Ferrari’s dismal run continues following an 80-point swing in Verstappen’s favour in the championship over the last five races.

“I still expect it not to be a straightforward race,” said Verstappen. “But today with the tricky conditions we stayed calm and didn’t make mistakes.”

While Verstappen looked a strong bet for pole in the Red Bull throughout, his team-mate Sergio Perez fared less well and crashed in the second session, ending up 13th.

But although Verstappen was hugely impressive, as always in the wet, arguably the star of qualifying was Alonso, who has looked quick all weekend, wet or dry, and continues to prove at 40 that age has not dimmed his talent – as he has always insisted since he returned to F1 at the beginning of last year.

Quick in the dry in practice on Friday, Alonso continued his form after rain hit the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the start of the weekend, and he danced the Alpine around the track, power-sliding it out of the last corner seemingly for fun to out-qualify his team-mate Ocon by 1.585secs.

“We were P1 in FP3 this morning so it seemed we were quick in the wet but it was not really wet at the end, it was almost dry,” Alonso said. “But the car was fast in the dry and in the wet today so it has been a very competitive weekend.”

Hamilton had been out-qualified by Russell for three consecutive races and it looked set to be four until the younger man took a gamble that the track might be ready for slick tyres on the final runs.

The risk did not pay off – Russell ran wide at the second corner on his first attempt, put a wheel on the painted pit-exit line and drifted into a slow spin. He tried again but his first sector was 10 seconds off the pace and the game was up.

Hamilton, who has been spending the week receiving treatment to his back after suffering badly from the Mercedes’ bouncing on the straights at last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, said: “This past week has been a real challenge and every day working through the pain and getting my body right.

“We are still struggling with the car, so to get top four in those conditions is awesome.

“It is my best qualifying this season and feels similar to my first ever qualifying in Australia in 2007, I was so excited.”