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Liverpool Boss Klopp Signs New Contract until 2026

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 24, 2022. (AFP)
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 24, 2022. (AFP)
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Liverpool Boss Klopp Signs New Contract until 2026

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 24, 2022. (AFP)
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 24, 2022. (AFP)

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Anfield until 2026, giving the club a huge boost ahead of a defining period in which they could win an unprecedented quadruple.

Liverpool confirmed in a statement on Thursday that assistant managers Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz had also signed contract extensions with the Premier League club.

Klopp, who joined Liverpool from Borussia Dortmund in October 2015, had said in March he would remain in charge of the club beyond the end of his previous contract in 2024 only if he had the energy levels.

After signing his new deal, he said there was a freshness about the club still that "energizes" him.

"There are so many words I could use to describe how I am feeling about this news... delighted, humbled, blessed, privileged and excited would be a start," Klopp said in a statement.

"For as long as I have been here, our owners have been unbelievably committed and energetic about this club and it is clear that right now this applies to our future as much as I've ever known.

"There is just so much to love about this place. I knew that before I came here, I got to know it even better after I arrived and now I know it more than ever before."

Klopp, 54, has won five trophies in seven years since swapping the Ruhr valley for Merseyside, guiding Liverpool to the Champions League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup victories in 2019 before lifting the Premier League the following year.

Liverpool remain on course to clinch a quadruple this season, having won the League Cup in February and reached the FA Cup final, while they trail Premier League leaders Manchester City by a single point with five games left.

They are in the box seat in their Champions League semi-final against Villarreal after a 2-0 first-leg victory kept them on track for a third final in five seasons.

"Like any healthy relationship, it always has to be a two-way street, you have to be right for each other. The feeling we were absolutely right for each other is what brought me here in the first place and it's why I've extended previously," Klopp said.

"We are a club that is constantly moving in the right direction. We have a clear idea of what we want, we have a clear idea of how we try to achieve it. That's always a great position to start from."

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Sports

Injured Aubameyang to Miss International Swansong with Gabon

Gabon's forward #09 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores a goal in front of Mozambique's defender #17 Edson Sitoe during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group F football match between Gabon and Mozambique at Grand Stadium in Agadir on December 28, 2025. (AFP)
Gabon's forward #09 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores a goal in front of Mozambique's defender #17 Edson Sitoe during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group F football match between Gabon and Mozambique at Grand Stadium in Agadir on December 28, 2025. (AFP)
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Injured Aubameyang to Miss International Swansong with Gabon

Gabon's forward #09 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores a goal in front of Mozambique's defender #17 Edson Sitoe during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group F football match between Gabon and Mozambique at Grand Stadium in Agadir on December 28, 2025. (AFP)
Gabon's forward #09 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores a goal in front of Mozambique's defender #17 Edson Sitoe during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group F football match between Gabon and Mozambique at Grand Stadium in Agadir on December 28, 2025. (AFP)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s international career looks to have ended with a whimper as he headed back to France on Tuesday and will miss Gabon’s last game at the Africa Cup of Nations ​finals.

After losing their opening two matches in Group F to Cameroon and Mozambique, Gabon have been eliminated with one match left to play against holders Ivory Coast in Marrakech on Wednesday.

At the age of 36, it was expected the clash against the Ivorians would bring down the curtain on his 16-year international career, but he will skip the last group game as he returns to his club ‌Olympique de Marseille. ‌

A thigh injury on the eve of ‌the ⁠tournament ​in Morocco ‌meant his participation was in doubt, but he came on after 30 minutes against Cameroon in Gabon’s opening game on Christmas Eve and played the full game against Mozambique on Sunday, scoring in the 3-2 defeat.

“Following the established medical protocol between Marseille and Gabon medical staff regarding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, clinical examinations were conducted daily,” said a statement on Tuesday from the ⁠Gabon football federation.

“The most recent examination confirmed the discomfort he experienced in his left thigh ‌the day after the Gabon-Mozambique match. Given the ‍disappointing results, which cut short ‍Gabon’s participation, the medical staff, in consultation with his club, agreed to ‍protect the player's physical well-being by exempting him from the final, inconsequential match."

GABON’S LONG TIME TALISMAN

Aubameyang has long been Gabon’s talisman, electing to play for the team his father had captained, even after playing for France, where he ​was born, at junior level.

He made his debut for Gabon in 2009, scoring against Morocco in a World Cup qualifier, ⁠and went on to win 82 caps and score 39 goals.

Aubameyang helped Gabon reach the Cup of Nations quarter-final when they hosted the tournament in 2012 but was the only player to fail to convert his penalty in a post-match shootout loss to Mali.

The tournament in Morocco was Aubameyang’s sixth Cup of Nations finals appearance. He was African Footballer of the Year in 2015.

Earlier this year, he helped Gabon finish as one of the four best runners-up in the World Cup qualifiers, including four goals in the game against Gambia in October.

Gabon, however, lost in ‌last month’s Africa playoffs, ending hopes of qualifying for a first-ever World Cup finals appearance in North America next June.

Sports

Hosts Morocco Cruise as South Africa Reach Cup of Nations Last 16

Ayoub El Kaabi is mobbed by teammates after scoring his second goal in Morocco's 3-0 win over Zambia. Gabriel BOUYS / AFP
Ayoub El Kaabi is mobbed by teammates after scoring his second goal in Morocco's 3-0 win over Zambia. Gabriel BOUYS / AFP
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Hosts Morocco Cruise as South Africa Reach Cup of Nations Last 16

Ayoub El Kaabi is mobbed by teammates after scoring his second goal in Morocco's 3-0 win over Zambia. Gabriel BOUYS / AFP
Ayoub El Kaabi is mobbed by teammates after scoring his second goal in Morocco's 3-0 win over Zambia. Gabriel BOUYS / AFP

Ayoub El Kaabi's brace helped Morocco to a 3-0 win over Zambia on Monday as the Africa Cup of Nations hosts cruised into the last 16 while South Africa beat Zimbabwe 3-2 to also secure a berth in the knockout phase.

African player of the year Achraf Hakimi made his comeback from almost two months out injured for Morocco as Mali also qualified for the next round and Mohamed Salah was rested for Egypt's 0-0 draw against Angola.

Morocco are the tournament favorites as the host nation and Africa's top-ranked team but they were booed off by supporters following a 1-1 draw against Mali in their last outing.

Nevertheless, Walid Regragui's team knew a win against Zambia at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in capital Rabat would guarantee their progress to the next round in first place in Group A and they outclassed their opponents.

Olympiakos striker El Kaabi nodded in an early opener and scored an overhead kick shortly after half-time, with both of his goals set up by the outstanding Azzedine Ounahi.

In between, Real Madrid attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz swept home Morocco's second goal on 27 minutes at the end of a fine team move, again involving Ounahi.

Diaz has found the net in all three of Morocco's games so far and he and El Kaabi join Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez on three goals at the top of the Cup of Nations scoring charts.

Captain Hakimi came off the bench in the 64th minute for his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury in action for Paris Saint-Germain at the beginning of November.

Morocco will stay in Rabat for a last-16 tie in the same stadium on Sunday against one of the best third-place finishers.

"Scoring early on changes everything," said Regragui. "We need to continue like this but not get carried away and keep our feet on the ground."

Zambia go out and have now failed to win any of their 12 AFCON matches across four tournament appearances since lifting the trophy in 2012.

Mali go through in second place after a 0-0 draw with Comoros in Casablanca, a game they ended with 10 men after Amadou Haidara was sent off.

It was a third stalemate in as many matches for the Eagles, who will remain in Morocco's largest city for a last-16 tie on Saturday.

Salah rested by Egypt

Earlier, Oswin Appollis converted a late penalty to give South Africa victory against Zimbabwe in Marrakesh as Bafana Bafana qualified for the knockout stage.

Rising star Tshepang Moremi gave South Africa an early lead with a deflected effort.

However, falling behind motivated Zimbabwe and they deservedly levelled on 19 minutes thanks to the individual brilliance of Tawanda Maswanhise from Scottish Premiership club Motherwell.

Maswanhise gained possession inside the South African half, dribbled past two opponents and fired the ball wide of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into the far corner.

South Africa began the second period aggressively and regained the lead on 50 minutes through Burnley striker Lyle Foster, for whom it was a second goal of the tournament.

Zimbabwe brought it back to 2-2 on 73 minutes when Aubrey Modiba conceded an own goal, but Appollis then netted from an 82nd-minute penalty to give Bafana the lead for the third time, which they retained.

"Once again we fell asleep after a good start. We continuously lost possession," said 73-year-old South Africa coach Hugo Broos.

"Our passing was bad at times and we should have concentrated on retaining possession in the closing minutes instead of seeking a fourth goal. We have to work on controlling games."

Egypt, who rested stars like captain Salah with first place already assured, topped Group B with seven points after their draw against Angola in Agadir. South Africa finished with six points, Angola two and Zimbabwe one.

The last round of group games continues on Tuesday, with Tanzania playing Tunisia and Nigeria facing Uganda in Group C. Senegal take on Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo play Botswana in Group D.

Sports

Japan Great Miura, 58, Joins New Club to 'Make History'

This picture taken on December 1, 2016 shows Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura speaking to journalists in Tokyo. (AFP)
This picture taken on December 1, 2016 shows Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura speaking to journalists in Tokyo. (AFP)
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Japan Great Miura, 58, Joins New Club to 'Make History'

This picture taken on December 1, 2016 shows Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura speaking to journalists in Tokyo. (AFP)
This picture taken on December 1, 2016 shows Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura speaking to journalists in Tokyo. (AFP)

Japanese soccer great Kazuyoshi Miura, 58, has signed a new loan deal with the Japanese third division ​side Fukushima United, setting him up for his 41st season as a professional footballer.

Miura, known as "King Kazu", will also be playing his first season in five years in the top three divisions of Japanese ‌football.

"My passion ‌for football hasn't changed, ‌no ⁠matter ​how ‌old I get," Miura, who turns 59 in February, said.

"I'm very grateful to be given this opportunity. I promise I will play with everything I have to make a contribution."

"Let's make ⁠history together."

The forward, who started his professional career ‌for Brazilian club Santos ‍in 1986, also ‍competed at several European clubs across ‍Italy (Genoa), Croatia (Dinamo Zagreb) and Portugal (Oliveirense) throughout his career.

This will be his fourth loan spell since 2022 from J2 League side ​Yokohama FC.

He went goalless last season, playing a total of 69 ⁠minutes across seven games at fourth-tier club Atletico Suzuka, while his side was relegated to Japan's regional leagues.

Miura scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan after making his debut in 1990, but was famously dropped from the side for their first World Cup appearance in 1998, before he retired ‌from international football in 2000.