Sports World Live Today, January 23, 2024: Novak Djokovic In Quarter-Final Action; India Face Syria In Must-Win AFC Asian Cup Match

Hello and welcome to the sports world live blog for January 23, 2024. The build-up towards a hotly anticipated Test series – India vs England – has taken a slight turn with the likes of Virat Kohli (two Tests) and Harry Brook (entire tour) opting out due to personal reasons. In football, India take on Syria in a must-win encounter at the AFC Asian Cup 2023. Later, Fulham welcome Liverpool in the second leg of the EFL Cup after the first one was won by the Reds at Anfield. But before all that, Novak Djokovic is in quarter-final action against Taylor Fritz. Also, in women’s singles, Marta Kostyuk is up against fourth seeded Coco Gauff. Follow all the developments live here.

9:36am: AFCON – Equatorial Guinea Rout Ivory Coast

Emilio Nsue scored twice as Equatorial Guinea routed Ivory Coast 4-0 to leave the host nation in danger of an Africa Cup of Nations exit, when Egypt advanced and Ghana were likely eliminated, reports Associated Press. Ivory Coast were left to rue a host of missed chances as Nsue opened the scoring before the break, and Pablo Ganet fired in a brilliant free kick after it, two minutes before the 34-year-old Nsue capped his performance with his fifth goal of the tournament. No other player has scored more. Jannick Buyla completed the rout on a counterattack in the 88th minute.

8:57am: Messi’s Inter Miami Lose

Lionel Messi had three shots on goal before exiting early in the second half in Inter Miami’s 1-0 loss to FC Dallas in an Major League Soccer pre-season game at the Cotton Bowl, reports Associated Press. Messi took three shots in the first half and left the game about 15 minutes into the second half with Inter Miami trailing in front of an announced crowd of 32,221 in a game played in a drizzle and 40 degrees (4 Celsius). Forward Jesus Ferreira scored on an uncontested shot three minutes into the match to give FC Dallas an early lead that held up.

-Outlook