After COVID19 pandemic halted the event for over a year, the 2021 Met Gala made a thumping comeback this year and there is no shortage of showstopping, breathtaking outfits as Stars ruffled up their appearance on the red carpet.
The media attention often lean toward entertainers and fashion designers.
Making a statement with their attire, there are more than a few athletes proving that they are more than athletes, as they show off their artistic talent.
From Naomi Osaka blending her Japanese and Haitian influences to Steph Curry’s jewel-adorned blazer, not to forget Russell Westbrook’s dyed hair. Sport icons like the Williams’ sisters, Simone Biles, Lewis Hamilton, served look we can’t forget easily.
Photo story: Note that all pictures here belong to @Gettyimages.
Naomi Osaka (Tennis Star) 4-time Grand Slam champion.
Serena Williams (Tennis Veteran) 23-time Grand Slam Champion.
Megan Rapinoe (American Football Star) World Cup winner.
Maria Sharapova (Tennis Star)
Simone Biles (Gymnast Icon) Most celebrated Olympian of recent times.
Emma Raducanu (Tennis Youngster) 2021 US Open Champion.
Ayesha and Stephen Curry (NBA Star)
Venus Williams (Tennis Star)
Allyson Felix (Track and Field Sprinter)
Russell Westbrook (Basketball Star) LA Lakers Point Guard
Sunisa Lee (US Gymnast)
Nia Dennis (Gymnast Star)
Sloane Stephen (US Tennis Youngster)
Tom Daley (British Diver)
Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canadian Tennis Star)
Leylah Fernandez (Tennis Youngster) 2021 US Open runner-up.
Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1 driver -A racing beauty)
Though not technically an athlete, NFL star wife, Ciara fully represented her husband with her Met Gala 2021 dress well detailed to her husband Russell Wilson — the NFL star with Seattle Seahawks.
Ciara Wilson
Missing your favourite athletes? Let’s know in the comment box.
There were only eight minutes left until the end of the first-leg tie at the Nest of Champions stadium in Uyo. The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Akwa United had just begun their 2020/21 CAF Champions League campaign with a rather tricky tie against Algerian Champions, CR Belouizdad. The visitors were running away with the advantage. They had managed to deny the Promise Keepers from scoring. They didn’t score, either. The home fans had become nervous and anxious, biting every nail on their fingers. Then, captain Ubong Friday brought back the joy with a clean strike from 20 yards after gathering a poor clearance from the Algerians to put Kennedy Boboye’s men in good stead to qualify for the group stages.
For a team that lost a few of its stars, most of which contributed massively to their first NPFL title triumph, there was this doubt that the team could not replicate the performances from last season.
Although, there were obvious signs that the team still has a lot of work to do especially in front of goal, the defence that contributed largely to their triumph in the league last season showed resilience with an applaudable performance against CR Belouizdad, proving that they could still lead the team to the ‘Promised land’. As they say: “Defence wins you titles.”
Samson Gbadebo — The New block
Olisa Ndah has since joined Orlando Pirates but his presence was felt even with the performance of Samson Gbadebo against CR Belouizdad. Olisa partnered Samson last season but with the former gone, Samson rose to the task of being the rock in the United defence. Samson’s reading of the game, his passing range from deep, aerial dominance, calmness and composure were the highlights of his performance against the Algerians.
The 24 year old has now established himself as the new defensive block at Akwa United and he will be the main man at the back as the Nigerians surge to a successful season.
Denis is back home
Denis spent last season on loan at Plateau United . This season, he is back at his parent club and walked straight into the starting XI to fill the void left by Olisa. He had been trusted by his manager for such a crucial game.
He impressed in his first game for the Promise Keepers with the stakes very high. He combined well with Samson Gbadebo in the heart of defence.
Denis’ awareness and calmness on the ball came to the fore against CR Belouizdad as he and Samson stopped every form of fluidity in the attack of the Algerians.
At Plateau United, Nya was one of the highly-rated CBs in the league and with enough experience gathered, he looks ready to help Akwa United win more trophies.
Safe Hands
Adewale Adeyinka kept the highest number of clean sheets in the NPFL last term (16). He has begun the 2021/22 season exactly where he stopped, with a big performance against CR Belouizdad.
Being the last line of defence for Akwa United, he has safely landed the Promise Keepers to the ‘promised land’ with his hands.
The big goalkeeper showed his quality when he made a big stop in a one on one situation after his defence had been outmaneuvered.
Adewale will be hoping to improve on his record breaking number of clean sheets in the new NPFL season.
A well-knit back-four of the aforementioned players alongside Evans Ogbonda who had 7 assists from left back last season joining the team and Etboy Akpan from the right back, Akwa United’s defence is ready to lead the Promise Keepers to glory yet again.
The Female Eagles of Mali have landed in Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday morning, ahead of the first edition of the tournament in honor of the name and Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Buhari.
Mali arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos.
The delegation were ushered to their reserved lodge, Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, for proper relaxation before the D-day.
Mali team bus headed to their hotels.
Mali are in group A along with the host nation and the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco.
The six-nation Invitational tournament will kickoff on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 with Mali facing nine-time African champions, Nigeria in the tournament opener at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium Onikan in a Pool-A fixture.
After the conclusion of the Zonal Qualifiers, the first edition of the Total-Energies CAF Women’s Champions League now has a kick-off date.
The event which is scheduled to hold in Egypt will be played in Cairo, Egypt, from November 5 to the 19th of the same month, according to a report on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) website.
A total of eight clubs will participate at the inaugural edition of the tournament, with two representatives from the host region, North Africa as well as from the zone that produced the defending Champions of the African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON), West African Football Union (WAFU-B) zone. The other four representatives are from WAFU-A, COSAFA (Southern Africa), CECAFA (East Africa), and UNIFFAC (Central Africa).
Qualified Teams And The Zone They Represent:
🇪🇬 Wadi Degla (hosts) 🇲🇦 AS FAR (UNAF) 🇳🇬 Rivers Angels (WAFU zonevB) 🇬🇭 Hasaacas Ladies (WAFU zone B) 🇲🇱 AS Mande (WAFU zone A) 🇿🇦 Sundowns Ladies (COSAFA) 🇰🇪 Vihiga Queens (CECAFA) 🇬🇶 Malabo Kings (UNIFFAC)
The Mauritania women’s national football team has not played a single FIFA recognised match. Women’s football is not supported by the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and there are few opportunities for women to play the sport.
The Mourabitounes of Mauritania was scheduled to take on Ghana’s U-20 women, the Black Princesses, in the second stage of the African U-20 Women’s World Cup qualification match on September 25 with the return leg set for October 9.
CAF has however informed that it has received a correspondence from the Mauritanian FA announcing their decision to withdraw from the FIFA WWC 2022 qualification stage.
“We regret to inform you that we have just received from Mauritania FA a correspondence informing us of their withdrawal from FIFA U-20 WWC 2022. Consequently, matches 23 & 24 are cancelled as well as the missions of all designated officials.” – CAF communicated to GFA
With this development, CAF confirmed that Ghana U-20 women’s team have advanced to the third stage of the qualification following Mauritania’s withdrawal from the qualifiers.
“On the other hand, kindly note that Ghana is automatically qualified of the next round of the competition”, CAF stated in a letter sent to the GFA on Saturday.
Contrary to prior announcements, the six-nation invitational tournament in honor of the Name and Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Buhari, will no longer hold at two venues.
With the Soccer Temple, Agege, out of the equation, the organisers announced on Sunday that all the matches of the mini-Africa tournament will now take place only at the remodelled Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Updated Fixtures of the Aisha Buhari Cup confirming Mobolaji Johnson Arena as Venue.
In its first edition, the tournament will kickoff on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 with Nigeria facing Mali in the tournament opener at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium Onikan in a Pool-A fixture.
The captain of the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene is among five foreign based players of Cameroon to touched down Lagos for the six-nation invitational tournament in honor of the Name and Office of the First lady of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Buhari.
The early bird players arrived Lagos on Monday morning through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The players departed their club sides to be in time for the tournament while they await the arrival of their teammates and delegates.
Proper arrangement is in place to lead them to their hotels where they wait for the full Cameroon team who are expected to arrive tomorrow except otherwise.
The continental showpiece will kickoff on Wednesday, 15 September, and will run for six days with all matches to be played at the remodelled Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Four times African Women’s Player Of The Year, Asisat Oshoala was seen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday morning.
The Super Falcons captain touchdown in time for the inaugural edition of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament which kickoff of on Wednesday, 15 September.
After helping her club side, FC Barcelona, to a massive league win over Real Betis, scoring two goals of the five scored, the striker is ready to help her Super Falcons side win the continental showpiece in honour of the name and Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ghana’s Black Queens and the Female Eagles of Mali have landed in Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday morning, ahead of the first edition of the Aisha Buhari Cup (ABC) scheduled to hold in the City of Lagos, from Wednesday 15, September.
Photo credit: Justina Aniefiok Black Queens of Ghana at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos.
Female Eagles of Mali touchdown Lagos.
South Africa and Cameroon are expected to jet into the country soon.
Photo credit: Faith Oluchi IG Morocco touchdown Lagos, Nigeria.
The Morocco Women National Team have landed in the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the early hour of Monday, for the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Football Tournament taking place in the City of Lagos.
Organisers announced on Sunday that all the six matches of the continental masterpiece in honour of the name and Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari, will now hold at the remodelled Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
Black Queens of Ghana and the Female Eagles of Mali are expected to arrive in the later hour of Monday through a chartered flight.
MOLATsportgist 