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Cricket star Andrew Strauss, 48, gets married to PR executive 18 years his junior – seven years after the death of his wife Ruth from lung cancer
Former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss has married for the second time – almost seven years to the day after the tragic passing of his first wife Ruth, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The 48-year-old walked down the aisle with Antonia Linnaeus-Peat, 30, on December 17, in the wine town of Franschhoek, South Africa, the country of his birth.
Photos from the ceremony showed the happy couple surrounded by family in the sunshine at the La Clé vineyard around 50 miles east of Cape Town.
The new Mr and Mrs Strauss, who got together around two years ago, looked delighted on their big day last week.
There was also a poignant, and warm, picture of them smiling with his sons Samuel and Luca, who lost their mother on December 29, 2018.
Fans and friends have reacted with great joy to the news that Strauss has found love and happiness again after the tragic death of his first wife Ruth.
She died aged 46 following a battle with a rare form of lung cancer – just one year and 19 days after being diagnosed.
A happy Sir Andrew Strauss, 48, with his new wife Antonia Linnaeus-Peat, 30, on their wedding day last Wednesday
The happy couple with Sir Andrew’s sons, Luca (left) and Samuel (right)
Only close family attended the ceremony in a South African vineyard last Wednesday
Sir Andrew with his first wife Ruth (right) who died aged 46 following a battle with lung cancer
Sir Andrew has dedicated much of his energy to the Ruth Strauss Foundation, which supports families facing the incurable cancer diagnosis as well as funding research into non-smoking lung cancers.
It has raised millions of pounds each year since it was founded.
The new Strauss wedding was planned by Mosaic Weddings and photographed by Celeste Prince at La Clè Vineyard.
Flowers were by Botanica and hair and make up by Danielle Jacobs.
Strauss revealed on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast in November that only family had been invited to the ceremony, held last Wednesday.
The former England captain is not in Australia for England’s disastrous the Ashes series because of his wedding.
The happy couple were first spotted together in public two years ago after leaving an exclusive restaurant in London, understood to have been in a relationship already for several months.
The couple were also seen together in the Royal Box at this summer’s Wimbledon Championships, joining a host of sports stars on day six from footballer Jamie Redknapp to Olympics hero Dame Laura Kenny.
Ms Linnaeus-Peat, who used to work as a PR executive and now is a company director of Linnaeus Fine Art Advisory Limited, grew up in Hong Kong and attended £40,000-a-year St Mary’s Calne school for girls.
The former England captain’s new marriage comes seven years after his first wife Ruth McDonald died aged 46 following a battle with a rare form of lung cancer on December 29, 2018.
Married to Ruth for 15 years, Strauss had two sons with the Australian actress, Samuel and Luca, who are now aged 19 and 17 respectively.
England cricket legend Andrew Strauss, 48, fell in love with the PR exec around two years ago
The couple are pictured at this summer’s Wimbledon Championships in the Royal Box
She grew up in Hong Kong and attended £40,000-a-year St Mary’s Calne school for girls
Shortly after his wife’s upsetting death, Strauss founded the Ruth Strauss Foundation in her memory in 2019, a charity which supports families facing the death of a parent from the illness and funds vital research into non-smoking lung cancers.
The foundation’s annual ‘Red for Ruth’ campaign has become a regular fixture in the cricketing calendar, with players, coaches and fans encouraged to wear red in support of the charity during an England Test match in July.
Strauss has been open about how his wife’s death just days after Christmas in 2018 wholly changed his outlook on life.
Sharing how grief has affected him in a 2023 interview with The Telegraph, he said: ‘Our time is limited, and therefore I need to be more conscious about what I do and don’t do.
‘This might mean experiencing things that weren’t appealing to me before, or saying no to things even though I don’t want to let people down. But most of all, it means keeping the people most important to me happy.’
The former England captain went on to urge others to open up more in a message of support for those struggling.
‘It’s is still far too much of a taboo,’ he added. ‘Many people feel very uncomfortable, not knowing what to say to those who are going through it. They shudder, almost wanting to pretend that it’s not going on.
‘It’s absurd, because we’re all going to be touched by death in life. Grief still feels very beneath the surface to me. And that has to change, because otherwise there will be people devoid of support or knowledge.
‘You can be in your own little room grieving, without knowing where to turn.’
In a statement revealing Ruth had passed away, Strauss said in 2018: ‘Anyone who has met Ruth will know how loving, caring and passionately protective she was of her family and it gives us huge comfort that she was in Australia, the land of her birth, surrounded by those who love her, in her final moments.’
Strauss and Ruth had two sons, Samuel (right) and Luca (left) – pictured in May 2022
The Ruth Strauss Foundation’s annual ‘Red for Ruth’ campaign has become a regular fixture in the cricketing calendar, with players and staff encouraged to wear red in support of the charity
Meanwhile in Australia, away from the happy Strauss wedding, the Ashes cricket has been an unmitigated disaster for England.
Sir Andrew, the last England captain to win an away Ashes series 15 years ago, has warned removing Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes will not be enough to change a ‘depressingly one-sided story’ in Australia.
Strauss led a remarkable 3-1 triumph in 2010-11 but the trail has gone stone cold ever since, with England losing 16 and drawing just two of the last 18 Tests Down Under.
The heat is now on McCullum as head coach, while Stokes may find it hard to stay if their current 3-0 predicament becomes a 5-0 whitewash.
But Strauss has urged those within the game to look beyond the short-term fix of firing and hiring.
In the aftermath of England’s previous defeat in Australia, a 4-0 loss in 2021-22, he was employed by the England and Wales Cricket Board to conduct a high-performance review into the domestic game.
His eventual report made numerous suggestions, including cutting the number of first-class matches and restructuring the County Championship divisions and focusing on incentivising elite player development, but they were largely thrown out by the counties themselves.
Although he made no reference to the review in a wide-ranging post on the social network LinkedIn, he appears to be arguing for a fresh look at such proposals.
Strauss wrote: ‘So there it is, another ambitious set of England cricketers made the journey to Australia, full of hope and optimism only for their dreams to come crashing down around them after only 11 days of cricket.
‘McCullum and Stokes and will come under extreme scrutiny for the decisions they took in preparation for this tour in the same way that (Ashley) Giles and (Chris) Silverwood did after the last tour. And Andy Flower after 2013-14 and Duncan Fletcher after 2006/07.
‘While they will know that this goes with the territory, none of the above are responsible for England losing so incredibly consistently in Australia since 1986-87. We have been badly mauled time after time over there because Australia are a better team, served by a better high performance system.
‘If we are genuinely serious about changing this depressingly one-sided story, then we need to look beyond sacking England coaches and captains and ask whether we are genuinely willing to make the changes necessary to break the trend.’
Strauss served as director of cricket at the ECB after retiring and later acted as a strategic advisor to the board, parting ways in May 2023 after his reforms were rejected.
AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori has disclosed that he’s working hard to get a place in England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
In a chat with BBC Sport, Tomori emphasizes the importance of listening and learning from the seasoned players around him, recognizing that every piece of advice could play a role in his development and preparation for potential World Cup selection.
“I spoke to him after the last international break in November. We’ve spoken a few times and the message is to keep doing what I’m doing.
“The World Cup is six months away and there’s a lot of football to be played.
Read Also:We’ve Put W/Cup Disappointment Behind Us, Our Focus Now Is AFCON 2025 –Chelle
“I know he’s watching and keeping an eye because he called up (team-mate) Ruben Loftus-Cheek. That gives me the confidence I can make it.
“He came to Milan last season and I know he gets our data and sees our clips regularly too.
“The way he’s spoken about it is that it’s difficult because there’s so many players in that position, and I get it because you have players like John Stones, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn and Ezri Konsa.
“But the World Cup is still a dream and I’m working towards that.”
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England locked in fierce battle to secure West Ham wonderkid, 15, hailed as one of the country’s most promising defenders amid Netherlands interest
England and the Netherlands are locked in an international tug-of-war over one of England’s most promising academy players.
West Ham’s Emmanuel Fejokwu, just 15 but plays in the Under-18 Premier League, has so far represented both nations at Under-15 and Under-16 level and was called by up by England and the Netherlands for an international camp last week.
The young defender, who was born in the Netherlands but moved to England in his infant years, this time chose the country of his birth, which caught the attention of scouts given that the pair of Under-16 games would be against England.
It was particularly awkward for the FA and England’s youth coaches that Fejokwu came on in the first game and scored a left-footed finish into the top corner, and then followed that up by scoring a header in the second game as a starter.
The FA pathway is littered with players who can play for other nations and there are countless examples of young stars like Elliot Anderson, who spent a lot of his youth career at international level playing for Scotland before declaring for England as a senior player.
But concern has been ramped up at St George’s Park that one of English football’s most promising teenage defenders could be taken from their grasp.
The Netherlands (left) and England (right) are both trying to convince Emmanuel Fejokwu to commit his international future to them
Fejokwu is just 15-years-old but is a regular for West Ham’s Under-18s side
Daily Mail Sport understands that Fejokwu, who plays three years above his age level in West Ham Under-18s, much like 15-year-old JJ Gabriel at Manchester United, is also attracting significant interest from clubs in the Netherlands such as Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord.
Sources in the Netherlands believe a move to the Dutch league would help further secure him from the clutches of England at international level.
His Dutch passport opens the door for him to leave England at the age of 16, something which isn’t possible for players that solely hold a British passport. They cannot play abroad until they turn 18.
German clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen have made enquiries, as have Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Anderlecht, Lille and AS Monaco are also understood to be among the clubs vying for his signature.
West Ham are understood to be desperate to keep him while England’s biggest clubs have all sought updates on his situation as academy recruitment season goes into overdrive.
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England locked in fierce battle to secure West Ham wonderkid, 15, hailed as one of the country’s most promising defenders amid Netherlands interest
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has played down the chances of his own side and traditional heavyweights such as Nigeria and defending champions Ivory Coast, tipping hosts Morocco as the leading favourites for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Hugo Broos believes the Atlas Lions have both the quality and the advantage of home support to go all the way when the tournament gets underway in January 2026.
Speaking about the 2025 AFCON, Broos stated (via Flashscore): “It’s always very dangerous to put yourself [South Africa] as a favourite.
“The tournament this year will be tougher than the last one held in the Ivory Coast. I think if you can call a favourite, it’s Morocco.
“They [Morocco] are a very good team and playing at home.”
Morocco have already made a confident start, beating Comoros 2-0 in their opening fixture. That result leaves them top of Group A on three points, with matches against Zambia and Mali to come.
Broos’ view, however, is not universally shared. Former Nigeria coach Philippe Troussier has cast the net wider, naming eight countries he believes are capable of lifting the trophy.
Speaking to Filgoal, Troussier said: “I’m confident that the AFCON will be strong and competitive.
“Morocco leads [as the number one favourite], along with the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Algeria, South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Egypt.”
Troussier, 70, has coached across the continent, with spells in charge of Morocco, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Africa.
Tanzania’s head coach, Miguel Gamond, has shared his strategy for the team’s opening match against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Gamond said Tanzania will approach Nigeria with the mentality to play, try to get the ball and attack Eric Chelle’s men.
DAILY POST reports that Nigeria will face Tanzania in an AFCON match on Tuesday evening in Morocco.
“We are excited to participate in this AFCON, we are ready for tomorrow’s game against Nigeria,” Gamond said.
“It will be a very difficult tough game but we are, but a very nice challenge for us.
“We need to work and try to neutralize Nigeria but our mentality is to play, try to get the ball and attack as well.”
Tanzania are in Group C alongside Nigeria, Uganda and Tunisia.
Taifas Stars of Tanzania head coach Manuel Gomandi has said his players are more than ready to take on Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their AFCON 2025 Group C opener on Tuesday.
Tanzania will take on the Super Eagles for the first at the AFCON since 1980 in Nigeria.
The Taifas Stars lost 3-1 in the encounter 45 years ago with the late Christian Chukwu-led Nigerian team going on to become African champions for the first time.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: To Play In Super Eagles Midfield This AFCON Will Be A Challenge –Akinsanmiro
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Monday, Gomandi said the game against the Super Eagles will be a nice challenge for his side.
“We are very well prepared, we are excited to be patt of this AFCON and we are more than ready for tomorrow’s game. We have a very difficult game but it’s a nice challenge for us,” the Argentine said.
On how he plans to contain a star-studded Nigerian attack led by Victor Osimhen, he believes his players will go the extra mile to get a positive result.
“We need to be very careful, work in perfect situation and I’m sure my players will put in extra effort to contain the threat from Nigeria.”
He added: “We need to be realistic, when you see the qualities in the Nigeria team you need to put in more than 100 percent effort to try to neutralize them.
“But our mentality is to try to play and attack as well, we need to be tactically discipline and there should not be any room for mistakes because if you don’t avoid such mistakes the qualities in the Nigerian team can punish you.”
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
Super Falcons forwards, Jennifer Echegini and Rinsola Babajide made decisive contributions on Wednesday night as the 2025/2026 UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase concluded across Europe.
Jennifer scored her first UEFA Women’s Champions League goal of the 2025/2026 season, finding the net in Paris Saint-Germain’s 1–1 draw away to Benfica in Portugal.
Echegini struck early, opening the scoring in the 5th minute, giving PSG a dream start on Portuguese soil.
However, the French side were unable to build on that momentum, as Carole Costa equalised from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute, converting a spot-kick won by Lucia Alves.
Despite the draw, the result brought little consolation for either side. Both PSG and Benfica had already been eliminated prior to kick-off, and neither managed to secure a single victory throughout the league phase.
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PSG finished 17th on the table
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Benfica ended the phase 16th
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Both teams recorded two points from six matches
For Benfica, Super Falcons midfielder Christy Ucheibe remained an unused substitute, while Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade continues her spell on the sidelines due to injury.
Rinsola Babajide Assists as Roma End Campaign on a High
In Italy, Rinsola Babajide delivered a standout performance, providing an assist as AS Roma claimed their first win of the UWCL league phase, thrashing St. Pölten 6–1.
Babajide teed up Alayah Pilgrim for Roma’s opening goal. By halftime, the Italian side were already 2–0 ahead, firmly in control of the contest.
The second half belonged to Evelyne Viens, who completed a hat-trick, sealing a comprehensive victory and giving Roma a much-needed morale boost at the end of a challenging European campaign.
Super Falcons defender, Shukurat Oladipo also featured from the start for Roma, playing her part in a performance that saw the Italian club climb to 14th place in the final league-phase standings.
Read More: Nigerian Stars Suffer Early Exit as Roma, PSG Crash Out of the Champions League
Read More: Chelsea Collapse While Liverpool Rise on a Champions League Blockbuster Night
Read More: Champions League GW 6: Arsenal Shine, Man City Stun Madrid & PSG Held in UCL Day 2
League Phase Wrap: Top Four Advance Directly
With the league phase now complete, the competition’s hierarchy became clear at the summit of the table.
The top four teams, who progressed directly to the quarter-finals, are:
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FC Barcelona Femení
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Olympique Lyonnais
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Chelsea FC Women
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Bayern München
Meanwhile, Atlético de Madrid and UWCL debutants OH Leuven claimed the final knockout play-off spots, keeping their European dreams alive.
Attention now turns to the knockout play-off draw, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 18 December 2025.
From that stage, the race to succeed Europe’s elite intensifies, with the remaining contenders battling for a place in the quarter-finals.
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Osimhen Apologises To Nigerians Over World Cup Failure, Promises Super Eagles Fightback At AFCON
Victor Osimhen has apologised to Nigerians for the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup and has urged fans to keep faith as the team targets a strong run at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Galatasaray striker’s comments were shared on Sunday by Pooja, a Confederation of African Football-accredited photojournalist, via 𝕏.
Osimhen acknowledged the weight of expectations placed on the Super Eagles but insisted the squad remains calm and confident, pointing to the depth of quality within the team.
“The expectation is really high, not just within the camp but also from the Super Eagles fans all over the world. I think since the expectation is high, there is no single pressure among my teammates, myself and also the coach because we know the kind of quality we possess,” Osimhen said.
He described the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a chance for redemption after the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup, stressing that the players are eager to restore belief among supporters.
“This AFCON is an opportunity for us to try to right our wrongs, to try to make the Super Eagles fans all over the world believe that there is so much more that we can give,” he said.
Osimhen also offered a heartfelt apology to Nigerians over the failed World Cup qualification, admitting that the setback was painful for both players and fans.
“We’re so sorry, we have to use the opportunity to say we’re so sorry for not getting the World Cup ticket. I know the disappointment on the faces of a lot of Nigerian fans. Life has happened, so we have to keep it moving,” he added.
Despite the earlier setback, the 25-year-old remains upbeat about Nigeria’s prospects at the continental showpiece, emphasising the importance of hard work and focus.
“This AFCON is an opportunity for us to do well and try to make sure that we win the tournament. Of course, it’s not going to be easy; we have to fight for every game, we have to fight for every ball. We have to try to win every game and try to see if we can get to the final, and that’s where we’ll win it,” Osimhen said.
Former Manchester United captain, Gary Neville, has is sticking with his prediction that Arsenal will win the Premier League.
Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, was adamant that the Gunners will not bottle it this time around.
He predicted that Mikel Arteta’s men will extend their lead at the top in February and March.
Mikel Arteta’s men are currently two points clear of Manchester City after the latest round of fixtures.
Arsenal picked up a 1-0 win at Everton over the weekend after City thrashed West Ham 3-0.
“I think Arsenal are in a good position. Coming out of the new year, I feel like going into February, March, Arsenal will extend their lead,” Neville said.
“I feel it’s their year, I’m not sure this Arsenal team will bottle it this time.”
Maduka Okoye has apologised to Udinese following the club’s heavy defeat to Fiorentina, reports Completesports.com.
The Zebras were thrashed 5-1 by the hosts in their Serie A clash on Sunday.
Okoye was sent off in the eighth minute of the encounter.
Referee Maurizio Mariani gave the Nigeria international a straight red card for a rash challenge on Moise Kean.
Read Also:Nigerian Midfielder Set To Join MLS Club Colorado Rapids
Udinese capitulated after his dismissal conceding thrice before the break.
Okoye is expected to suspended for three games.
The 25-year-old took to the social media to express his regret over the incident.
“I’m sorry, Bianconeri,” the former Watford shot stopper wrote on Snapchat.
By Adeboye Amosu
As football fever builds across the continent, Goldberg has unveiled a new collective set to capture the pulse, passion and personality of Nigerian fans like never before.
Introducing The Golden Clan, a carefully curated circle of cultural tastemakers assembled to amplify the heartbeat of Nigerian football through storytelling, humour, emotion and lived fan experiences.
The Golden Clan brings together four distinct voices who represent different sides of Nigerian culture and fandom:
- Kunle Remi,
- Shaffy Bello,
- Brown Ideye and
- Broda Shaggi.
Together, they will serve as the faces and voices of Goldberg’s Feel the Beat. Taste the Gold. campaign, spotlighting how Nigerians experience football beyond the pitch, from viewing centres and streets to chants, rituals and shared moments of joy and heartbreak.
At the centre of the campaign is a simple truth: football in Nigeria has never been just about the game but about community, sound, movement, banter, pride and belief.
Through the Golden Clan, Goldberg is leaning into these realities, telling football stories through people who genuinely live and understand them.
Actor and cultural tastemaker, Kunle Remi brings warmth, depth and contemporary storytelling to the Clan, capturing match-day moments and fan connections with sincerity and style.
Veteran actress, Shaffy Bello adds elegance, gravitas and cultural pride, reflecting the generational bond Nigerians share with football.
Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye offers insider perspective, experience and emotional resonance from someone who has worn the green and white on the biggest stages.
Rounding out the Clan is comedian Broda Shaggi, whose street-smart humour and unfiltered energy mirror the voice of everyday fans across the country.
Throughout the campaign, the Golden Clan will come alive across viewing parties, fan engagements, digital content and surprise moments, documenting how Nigerians feel the beat of football and celebrate the culture that surrounds it.
With the Golden Clan, Goldberg is stepping into the crowd, standing with fans, and turning match-day moments into stories worth sharing, because when Nigerians gather around football, the energy is unmistakable, and the vibe is always golden.