SUPER EAGLES TO HOST ARSENAL FC IN AUGUST

Ranked 60th in the latest Fifa rankings, Nigeria face a Gunners side that finished third in the English top flight last season.It will be the first time Arsenal have played in the West African nation."We are delighted to announce that Arsenal Football Club will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Abuja," said promoter David Omigie of DanJan Sports.DanJan Sports say that agreement has been finalised with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to provide a strong Super Eagles side."The NFF have agreed that the country will present a strong side as coach Stephen Keshi continues his development process," said Omigie."The Arsenal manager [Arsene Wenger] will also use this game to showcase his full squad for the 2012/2013 football season."The London club traditionally hosts an annual pre-season tournament at the Emirates Stadium, but they opted to postpone the event for a year because of the 2012 London Olympics.The visit to Nigeria will conclude Arsenal's pre-season after tours to both China and Malaysia in July.On their official website, Arsenal said: "The club last visited Africa during a tour to South Africa in July 1993.""It is returning as a result of the fantastic support which exists for the team, not only in Nigeria, but across the entire continent." DanJan Sports revealed that tickets for the match will go on sale from 4 July.Four years ago, they brought two other English clubs, Manchester United and Portsmouth, to the Nigerian capital Abuja for a pre-season friendly.As well as the match between the two, Portsmouth also played against Nigeria Premier League side Kano Pillars.Two-time African champions Nigeria have competed at four World Cup tournaments, failing to reach the knock-out stages at the last tournament in South Africa in 2010.

BEYONCE NOT COMING TO SOUTH AFRICA

World's top billed female performer Beyonce had been billed to stage a breath taking concert in South Africa but turns out there was no deal at all. Rumors were rife that the Sports and recreation department had already booked the star for a whopping $2million.The sport and recreation department has denied paying R17m ($2million) for United States singer Beyoncé Knowles to perform at the sports awards later this year. "No contract of R17m has been signed," the department's director general Alec Moemi said on Tuesday. "This is a fabrication." Moemi said the department issued a tender every year asking companies to provide proposals on what they intended to feature at the awards if given the chance. This year a company had proposed bringing Knowles, and had said it could arrange sponsors. "We are quite keen and we are quite excited... if we can get Beyoncé without paying," he said. However, it was just a proposal and the department had not yet decided who to appoint.

News of Beyonce coming to South Africa later this year for the second Annual South African Sports Awards had spread like bush fire on social media networks.  Sports minister, Fikile Mbalula revealed his plan of wanting to bring Beyonce to the country on Kaya FM several days ago. While some were excited about the announcement, others had not taken the news well. Yesterday, COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi posted: "Example of an own goal. What is your feeling on Mr Mbalula paying Beyonce 17million Rand for an hour's work when we have artists in SA?" It is understood that Big Concerts has been roped in to facilitate the performance. According to the reports, more information about the star attractions of the bash will be unveiled in August after the London Olympics.

NAIJA ACTS BRACKET ACQUIRE GUZZLERS

They must be moving from glory to glory. The bracket musical duo are making showbiz statements that cannot be ignored. Still basking in the euphoria of the success of their last album, Cupid Stories, the duo of Vast and Smash popularly known in the music scene as Bracket have acquired new automobiles worth N25 million.The Yori-Yori crooners increased the number of automobiles in their garage over the weekend with the acquisition of two brand new Range Rover Sports and a G-class. The two Range Rover Sports which will carry the special plate number ‘Peace Ambassador’ will be used by Vast and Smash respectively, while the G-class is for their promoter, Ape Planet. Meanwhile, Bracket is currently on a music tour of the United States of America.