We told you earlier that Mali and Guinea are drawing lots to decide who will progress to the quarter-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Well, this rather bizarre method of determining the 'winner' has just taken place ... and Guinea have come up trumps.

Ivory Coast are already through as group winners.

The draw went smoother than this one involving Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker earlier this week.

Gary Lineker, external: Thrilled to report that the BBC retains the rights to show Premier League highlights. Long live Match Of The Day.

Well, it's all happening. More now on the news that Sheffield Wednesday have been taken over by a Thai consortium led by businessman Dejphon Chansiri.

Chansiri, whose family owns Thai Union Frozen Group, has acquired a 100% stake in the Championship club.

Owls chairman Milan Mandaric, who had been in charge since December 2010, confirmed earlier this month the club were in talks with potential investors.

Image source, Sheffield Wednesday

"I am very excited at the prospect of taking over control from Milan," Chansiri told the club website, external.

A last word from Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, who, by the sounds of it, might go all-out attack at Manchester United on Saturday.

"Against Spurs you could say we played with four strikers. That's about as positive as you can be," he said, referring back to last Saturday's FA Cup win at White Hart Lane.

Image source, Getty Images

Club record £9m signing Andrej Kramaric made his debut in that match. "He has settled well," said Pearson. "He's got a game which is more than capable of being successful here. That's why we wanted him."

Pearson also revealed striker Chris Wood will be out injured for three weeks, but Dean Hammond and Matthew Upson are both available.

"Brighton boss Chris Hughton tells the BBC that Chris O'Grady will definitely not be leaving the AMEX Stadium in January transfer window."

BBC West Yorkshire Sport, external: Leeds United boss Neil Redfearn... "It's been strange not speaking to Massimo Cellino this week but chairman Andrew Umbers has been very supportive."

And, at the risk of making you dizzy, back to Liverpool where Brendan Rodgers has been asked about Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing.

The pair left Anfield while he was a manager but will return on Saturday as an integral part of West Ham's team.

Image source, Getty Images

"Stuart was one I didn't want to let go. He was coming toward the end of his contract," said Rodgers.

"After what was a difficult start when we first worked together, in the second part of the season he was one of my regulars. He wasn't someone I wanted to move on.

"He has gone to West Ham and done very well. He is a gifted player technically. He is a good guy and trains hard every day."

As for Andy..? "He has great ability around the box, but in terms of how we wanted to play, he might not have been a regular player because of the movement and speed with which we try to work. But that doesn't mean he's a bad player, he is still an outstanding player."

Blimey, it's all happening. Clarets boss Sean Dyche confirms the club have had a bid for Dundee United's Stuart Armstrong turned down.

A little more on the BBC's new deal, which includes a midweek Match of the Day.

"The new midweek programme will review and preview the weekend's action with all the latest Premier League news, going behind the scenes at Premier League clubs, and bringing interviews with managers, players and those who have made their mark on the league's illustrious history," said a statement issued by the BBC.

Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, said: "We're delighted. Match of the Day is the most iconic brand in television sport, and we work hard to ensure that it continues to be the destination for millions of viewers each weekend across platforms."

BBC Director General Tony Hall said: "Sport matters to the public, and the BBC. That's why it's fantastic news that we have kept the Premier League highlights."

The BBC has renewed its deal to show Premier League highlights for a further three years, through to and including the 2018/19 season.

The agreement covers the weekend programming of Match of the Day, its Sunday morning repeat, MOTD2, Football Focus, plus a new midweek magazine show to air 10pm Wednesday nights on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.

Leicester have a tough game to say the least on Saturday, away at Manchester United.

But the talk so far has been about transfers and whether Pearson will complete any.

Image source, Getty Images

The interviewer asks him pretty much the same question at least a dozen times but it's like getting blood out of a stone. We've cobbled together all Pearson's answers to get this much...

"I don't know if we'll do any business. You get nothing out of me other than you'll find out when and if something happens."

Wasn't worth the wait really was it?

Like buses these Premier League managers. None for ages then two pop up at the same time.

Nigel Pearson is nice and early for his press conference and seems a happy man, no wonder after the Foxes terrific win at Spurs in the FA Cup last time out.

"I do think we've had a lot of very good performances this year. The players continue to adapt to the Premier League," said the Leicester boss.

"The players believe we're capable of getting results, no matter how tough they look on paper."

Liverpool fans should not get their hopes up about a big transfer before deadline day passes.

Brendan Rodgers, unless it was his best poker face, looked downbeat when answering a question about whether he was planning any business.

"Every manager wants more, but you can't pluck players out of the air," he said.

"I'd like to do one or two things but players who will improve you aren't always available. I always said it was likely we wouldn't do anything and that will probably be the case."

What Brendan Rodgers is happy to talk about is his own striker, Daniel Sturridge.

The frontman, who has not played since injuring himself on international duty with England in September, is back training and close to a return.

Image source, Getty Images

"Since he has come back from getting treatment in America he has been very upbeat and focused now working as hard as he can," said Rodgers.

"In training in the last few days he has been brilliant, back to what we've seen before - dynamic, fast and strong.

"But we have to be careful because he has been out for a long time. We can't put him under pressure and expect him to be our saving grace as soon as he gets back."

Brendan Rodgers has arrived and inevitably it didn't take long for someone to ask him for his thoughts on Diego Costa.

Rodgers, though, wasn't for saying too much, even though the question was phrased carefully - asking if the Liverpool boss had been interested in signing the striker last summer.

Image source, Getty Images

"I don't want to talk too much about Diego Costa," Rodgers said. "We were interested in him because he is outstanding player.

"All the best players have an edge. You just hope behaviour doesn't overstep the mark. But he is a wonderful player and that's all I need to say about it."

And that was the end of Diego talk.

Pat Murphy, BBC Radio 5 live: Aston Villa expect to confirm this afternoon the loan signing of Scott Sinclair from Manchester City.

The winger, who barely featured for the City first team over the past two seasons, has passed his medical and the formalities are being finalised. He will sign on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent transfer.

Image source, AFP

Stoke City striker Peter Crouch and midfielder Glenn Whelan have both signed two-year contract extensions, committing them to the club until the summer of 2017.

Crouch, 33, moved to the Britannia Stadium from Tottenham in the summer of 2011 while Whelan, 31, joined the club in 2008 and has made 18 appearances this season.

Image source, Liverpool FC

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is set to face the media any minute now. Liverpool tweeted this pic earlier of Daniel Sturridge training in the snow.

Expect Rodgers to talk about the striker's fitness, the fall-out from the League Cup defeat at Chelsea (complete with Diego Costa's alleged stamp), and Saturday's visit of West Ham in the league.

We'll bring you what he says as it happens.

Image source, Getty Images

Midfielder Jordon Mutch has completed his move to Crystal Palace, ending a short, ill-fated stay with QPR.

Just 25 weeks into a four-year deal at Loftus Road, the 23-year-old has moved on after failing to replicate the form which saw the Rs reportedly pay Cardiff £6m for his services.

Mutch has signed a four-and-a-half year contract at Selhurst Park, where the midfielder becomes the first permanent acquisition of the Alan Pardew era.

Finance company Wonga has announced it will not be renewing its sponsorship deal with Championship side Blackpool when it expires at the end of the season.

The payday lender has been in partnership with the club for five years.

Image source, Getty Images

"The decision comes as Wonga continues to review its marketing activities and brings an end to a successful five-year partnership with the club," the company said in a statement, external.

The Seasiders are 12 points from safety at the bottom of the Championship.