Kimmich, Neuer Headline Absentee List for Injury-hit Bayern

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany arrives for the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Mainz 05 in Munich, southern Germany on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Karl-Josef HILDENBRAND / AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany arrives for the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Mainz 05 in Munich, southern Germany on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Karl-Josef HILDENBRAND / AFP)
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Kimmich, Neuer Headline Absentee List for Injury-hit Bayern

Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany arrives for the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Mainz 05 in Munich, southern Germany on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Karl-Josef HILDENBRAND / AFP)
Bayern Munich's Belgian head coach Vincent Kompany arrives for the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Mainz 05 in Munich, southern Germany on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Karl-Josef HILDENBRAND / AFP)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany confirmed captain Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich were among several absentees for Sunday's Bundesliga match against Heidenheim.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday ahead of the final match of the calendar year, Kompany said Sacha Boey would also miss out through injury, Konrad Laimer is suspended while Nicolas Jackson is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal.

Long-term absentee Jamal Musiala returned to team training this week but would not return until 2026.

France winger Michael Olise, who had eye surgery earlier in the week, is expected to return, as is Luis Diaz who missed out last week with suspension.

The dependable Olise is yet to miss a match with injury since joining Bayern from Crystal Palace in 2024.

According to AFP, Kompany said Germany captain Kimmich is still struggling with an ankle complaint picked up on international duty in November.

"We've had so many matches recently, at a certain point the pain becomes too much," Kompany said, adding Kimmich had "been playing at the limit of what's too painful" for weeks.

Unbeaten Bayern have enjoyed a close to flawless league campaign this season, dropping just four points in their opening 14 matches.

League leaders Bayern sit six points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who have played a game more.

On Saturday, German tabloid Bild reported Bayern was set to extend with winger Serge Gnabry by two years until 2028.

The former Arsenal forward has played at Bayern since 2017 and has impressed this campaign, with five goals and seven assists in all competitions.

The 30-year-old has also returned to form at international level, with three goals and an assist in Germany's six World Cup qualifiers.



Veteran Brazilian Defender Thiago Silva Signs for Porto

(FILES) Fluminense's Brazilian defender #03 Thiago Silva participates in a training session at the Harrison Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 7, 2025, on the eve of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal football match between Brazil's Fluminense and England's Chelsea. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
(FILES) Fluminense's Brazilian defender #03 Thiago Silva participates in a training session at the Harrison Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 7, 2025, on the eve of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal football match between Brazil's Fluminense and England's Chelsea. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
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Veteran Brazilian Defender Thiago Silva Signs for Porto

(FILES) Fluminense's Brazilian defender #03 Thiago Silva participates in a training session at the Harrison Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 7, 2025, on the eve of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal football match between Brazil's Fluminense and England's Chelsea. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
(FILES) Fluminense's Brazilian defender #03 Thiago Silva participates in a training session at the Harrison Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 7, 2025, on the eve of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal football match between Brazil's Fluminense and England's Chelsea. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)

Former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva has signed for Porto at the age of 41, the Portuguese club announced on Saturday.

One of the finest center-backs of his generation, Silva arrives in Porto after a two-season spell with Fluminense in his native Brazil.

"Thiago Silva is a Dragon,” AFP quoted a club statement as saying in reference to the side's nickname.

The move completes something of a circle in his career as he played for Porto's B side in the 2004-05 season.

He then moved on to Dynamo Moscow, before a stint with Fluminense's senior team and then AC Milan where he won a Serie A title, before a 2012 switch to Paris.

He left PSG in 2020 with seven French league crowns and signed for Chelsea, winning the Champions League with the Blues at Porto's Estadio do Dragao stadium.

In all Silva has a total of 32 trophies in his decorated career, and could well add another as Porto are leading the Primeira Liga by five points.


Africa Cup of Nations Moved to Every Four Years

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Final - Senegal v Egypt - Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon - February 6, 2022 General view of the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Final - Senegal v Egypt - Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon - February 6, 2022 General view of the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
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Africa Cup of Nations Moved to Every Four Years

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Final - Senegal v Egypt - Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon - February 6, 2022 General view of the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Final - Senegal v Egypt - Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon - February 6, 2022 General view of the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

The Africa Cup of Nations will ​in future be held every four years instead of every two years, the Confederation of ‌African Football ‌said on ‌Saturday.

The ⁠surprise ​decision ‌was made at the organization’s executive committee meeting in the Moroccan capital and announced ⁠at a press conference ‌by CAF ‍President ‍Patrice Motsepe, Reuters reported.

The tournament, ‍which brings in an estimated 80% of CAF’s revenue, has ​traditionally been held every two years since ⁠its inception in 1957.

Sunday marks the start of the 35th edition, hosted in Morocco with the home team taking on Comoros.


Mohamed Salah Apologized to His Liverpool Teammates over Contentious Comments

 Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (R) sits on the bench during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (R) sits on the bench during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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Mohamed Salah Apologized to His Liverpool Teammates over Contentious Comments

 Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (R) sits on the bench during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (R) sits on the bench during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Mohamed Salah apologized to his Liverpool teammates after complaining of being “ thrown under the bus ” by the Premier League champion, midfielder Curtis Jones said.

Jones told broadcaster Sky Sports on Saturday that Salah took the time to address the issue with them, The AP news reported.

“Mo is his own man and he can say his own stuff. He apologized to us and was like, 'If I've affected anybody or made you feel any sort of way, I apologize.' That's the man that he is," Jones told Sky. “He was the exact same Mo, he had a big smile on his face and everybody was exactly the same with him. I guess it’s just part of wanting to be a winner.”

Dropped by Slot The 33-year-old Egypt star has scored 250 goals for Liverpool overall but has only netted five times this season in 20 games.

Last season was one of his best with 34 goals in 52 outings for Liverpool, and he clinched the player of the year award from the Professional Footballers’ Association for the third time.

Salah, who is now at the Africa Cup of Nations, made his explosive comments about feeling unfairly treated at Liverpool after being dropped for a third game in succession.

In the wake of those comments, Liverpool coach Arne Slot left Salah out of the squad for a Champions League game at Inter Milan. But following subsequent talks with Slot, Salah returned to the team against Brighton last Saturday.

Unbeaten run Since losing 4-1 at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in late November, Liverpool was unbeaten in five matches heading into a Premier League game at Tottenham later Saturday.

“We’re past that now and we’re gelling well as a team," Jones added. “Playing well and starting to win games.”