Sports Zone 09-01-2024

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

- Nigeria’s highest-ranked table tennis player, Aruna Quadri, hopes to qualify for the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics through the International Table Tennis ranking.

- Nigeria men’s para-volleyball national team will face Egypt, Morocco and Kenya in group A of the African qualifiers for a place at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

- Emma Raducanu has reunited with childhood coach Nick Cavaday in time for the Australian Open where she will play her first Grand Slam for a year.

- Tiger Woods and sportswear giant Nike have ended their long-term partnership after more than 27 years.

- Ja Morant’s season is over, with the Memphis Grizzlies announcing Monday night that their star guard needs surgery to repair a tear in his right shoulder.

- Coach Chris Musa Danjuma has selected captain Oluchi Ohaegbulem, goalkeeper Faith Omilana, defender Shukurat Oladipo and midfielder Taiwo Afolabi among a list of 19 Falconets of Nigeria who will file out against Burundi’s U20 girls in a FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup final qualifying fixture, first leg encounter in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday.

- Nigeria Premier Football League side Gombe United have been handed a three-point deduction by the league board following their unsportsmanlike conduct during their match-day 17 encounter against Rivers United at home on Sunday.

- Nigeria’s Super Eagles fell to a 2-0 defeat to Guinea in their preparatory game for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for later this month.

- Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface has sustained an injury while in training, with the Africa Cup of Nations just days away.

- Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu will be the chief host of a special dinner organised by the Lagos State government for the Super Eagles tonight, hours before the three-time champion departs for Cote d’Ivoire to participate in the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals starting this weekend.

- Super Eagles group opponents, Guinea-Bissau said that they have the materials to cage Nigeria when hostilities begin in Cote d’Ivoire.

- Ghana completed its preparation for CAN 2023 with a draw against Namibia (0-0) this Monday at home, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

- Out this Monday at the Me Abdoulaye Wade stadium in Diamniadio, as part of its preparation match against Niger, five days before CAN 2023 starting on Saturday, Senegal won with a narrow score of 1-0. After a long domination, the Lions snatched victory in stoppage time before leaving for Ivory Coast.

- Tottenham will host holders Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

- German legend Franz Beckenbauer, widely regarded as one of football's greatest players, has died aged 78.