Sports Zone 02-01-2024

Enjoy the crew banter and discuss different stories around the world;

- Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri will know his round of 16 opponent on Tuesday (today) when the draws for the World Table Tennis tournament takes place the ultra-modern Lusail Sports Arena in Doha.

- Naomi Osaka has welcomed the test that came in a successful WTA Tour return in Brisbane that mixed her thunderous best with some forgettable moments.

- Ahead of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, three-time winners, Super Eagles will begin a 7-day camping exercise in Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates.

- Head Coach of Gambia, Tom Saintfiet, has tipped the Super Eagles as favourites to lift the trophy at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

- Ahead of the start of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, Super Eagles of Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro has once again reiterated his desire to win the tournament.

- The Black Stars of Ghana will be without the services of Thomas Partey at the 2023 AFCON 2023 in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire.

- In preparation for their participation in the 2023 African Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea will face Djibouti in a warm-up game.

- Sébastien Desabre, the coach of the DRC team, explained the reasons for his choice to retain “only” 24 players in his final list for CAN 2023 (January 13-February 11, 2024) while he had the latitude to take up to 27 elements.

- Liverpool and Real Madrid want Paris St-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, who is out of contract at the end of the season. The 25-year-old France international is free to sign for another club this month. (Le Parisian)

- Manchester United and Liverpool head the queue of clubs who want 28-year-old Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich when his Bayern Munich contract runs out at the end of the season. (AS)