Sports Zone 03-01-2024

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

- Africa’s number one table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, will begin his campaign for glory at the World Table Tennis Finals in Doha, today, when he meets South America’s champion and world number five player, Brazil’s Hugo Calderano.

- Rafael Nadal impressed on his long-awaited return after almost a year out with injury as he beat Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International.

- The tickets for the highly anticipated clash between Nigeria and hosts Ivory Coast at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations have officially sold out.

- Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has opened up on his cryptic message about being in the Super Eagles camp for the upcoming AFCON in Ivory Coast, saying the move is personal and not to train the goalkeepers that will be on parade for Nigeria when the tournament kicks off January 13.

- Skipper Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Kenneth Omeruo and Enyimba goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo, were among the Super Eagles delegates that departed for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), yesterday, to begin preparations for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on January 13 in Cote d’Ivoire.

- Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi will not be part of the Nigeria players that will participate in the 2023 African Nations Cup in Ivory Coast.

- Host, the Elephants of Coted'Ivoire intensified their readiness for the upcoming African Cup of Nations as they appointed a new captain for the team.

- The coach of the Cameroon team, Rigobert Song, justified the non-call-up of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for CAN 2023 (January 13-February 11, 2024).

- Spanish World Cup-winning footballer Jenni Hermoso has testified to a Madrid court that a kiss from former football federation president Luis Rubiales was "not consensual".

- Birmingham City have sacked manager Wayne Rooney after just 83 days in charge of the Championship club.

- Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho might return to Borussia Dortmund on loan this month.