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Sinner Relishing the Moment after Magnificent Miami Performance

Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with the Miami Open men's trophy at Hard Rock Stadium on March 31, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with the Miami Open men's trophy at Hard Rock Stadium on March 31, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Sinner Relishing the Moment after Magnificent Miami Performance

Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with the Miami Open men's trophy at Hard Rock Stadium on March 31, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with the Miami Open men's trophy at Hard Rock Stadium on March 31, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)

Jannik Sinner said he is enjoying every moment of his sensational start to the 2024 season after winning the Miami Open on Sunday for his third title of the year.

The Italian thoroughly outplayed Daniil Medvedev in the semis and Grigor Dimitrov in the final to improve to 22-1 on the year and rise to a career-best world number two.

"This is a special moment," Sinner said after beating Dimitrov 6-3 6-1 in the final for his second Masters 1000 title.

"You never know if this is the last time or not. So you have to enjoy this for one day, and now a new chapter is coming, clay-court season is coming, so completely different.

"Let's see how I will play from now on. But for sure, the hard-court season until now has been very good."

Behind an improved serve and textbook shot-making, Sinner has been on a roll this season, winning the Australian Open in January for what is expected to be the first of many Grand Slam titles.

His only loss of the year came to Carlos Alcaraz in the semis at Indian Wells but after his triumph in South Florida, the Spaniard will now be looking up to his rival in the rankings come Monday.

"Being number two, it's an amazing feeling," Sinner said.

"I never thought to come to this point. I come from a very normal family. My dad is still working, as my mom, too. For me sport is one thing and life is different."

Sinner's coach Darren Cahill told reporters that the 22-year-old was loving life but also staying grounded.

"He appreciates every single moment that is happening to him, but he's also got his feet on the ground knowing it's just a sport, it's just a tennis match," Cahill said.

"Whilst he's professional in everything he does, he enjoys his life. He's a normal 22-year-old kid. There's a lot to learn from him, a lot of good to learn from both him and Carlos. I think they're very similar in many, many ways.

"That's why I think tennis is in great hands at the moment with the likes of those two and many other players coming through that are going to carry the torch through a generation we have been so fortunate to sit through the last 20 years.

"It's important to have these types of sports people coming through."

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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.