Sports Zone 12-01-2024

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

- Sen. John Owan Enoh, Minister of Sports Development, has pledged to tackle funding challenge in sports in the country.

- Head coach of Nigeria women’s wrestling team, Purity Akuh, has said that his target at the 13th African Games in Ghana is to win all the available gold medals in the weight classes.

- The International Ice Hockey Federation has barred Israel from competing in its world championship events.

- The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has approved the re-appointment of the technical crew of the U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, led by Coach Bankole Olowookere, which led the team to Nigeria’s first-ever podium finish at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, in India in 2022.

- Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro has stated that all hands must be on deck for Nigeria to beat Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

- Gambia national team coach Tom Saintfiet says the entire squad would have died on their way to the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast on Wednesday after their flight went out of oxygen.

- Frank Onyeka is wanted by Everton, Fulham and a number of clubs overseas, with the Nigeria midfielder expected to be allowed to leave Brentford this month on loan. Onyeka, who is part of Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, has made six Premier League starts this season and is understood to be keen to find regular first-team football elsewhere.

- Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita will be the first woman in history to referee at the men’s Asian Cup when she takes charge of Australia against India, the Asian Football Confederation said Thursday.

- Barcelona beat Osasuna in Saudi Arabia to set up a Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday with Real Madrid.

- Tottenham have concluded the £25m signing of Radu Dragusin from Genoa, with Ange Postecoglou completing a central defensive reshuffle by letting Eric Dier move to Bayern Munich.

- Marseille have put in a surprise late bid to try and land Anthony Martial from Manchester United.

- Chelsea striker David Fofana is expected in Burnley over the weekend to sign on loan.

- Liverpool are set to put in a bid for a player they have admired for some time.

- Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says he has "best case a year" to live after being diagnosed with cancer.