MIAMI (AP) — All-Star guard Tyler Herro underwent surgery Friday to repair an issue affecting his left ankle and foot, meaning the Miami Heat will be without their leading returning scorer when training camp starts later this month.
The 90-minute procedure to alleviate posterior impingement syndrome in the ankle was performed by Dr. Thomas San Giovanni, assisted by Heat team physicians Dr. Harlan Selesnick and Dr. Frantz Lerebours at Doctors Hospital Surgery Center in Miami.
Herro is expected to be out for eight weeks, though a more exact return-to-play plan likely won't be finalized until he begins rehabilitation and gets through the surgery. The issue had been bothering Herro throughout offseason training and evidently worsened in recent weeks.
The Heat open training camp on Sept. 30 and begin regular-season play on Oct. 22 at Orlando. If Herro were to miss even just the first month of the season — which the eight-week timeline would suggest — that would mean he’d be out for roughly 16 games in that span alone.
Herro is coming off the best season of his career, one where he averaged 23.9 points — 3.1 points higher than his previous best — while also playing in a career-best 77 games. He made the All-Star team for the first time. He also won the league’s 3-point contest at All-Star weekend and did all that while posting career-bests in shooting percentage (.472), 3-pointers made per game (3.3) and assists per game (5.5).
He had three 40-point games last season after having one such game (41 vs. Houston in 2022) in his first five seasons combined.
But injuries — often of the foot and ankle variety — have been an issue in the past for Herro as well. He missed at least 15 games in each of his first four seasons, then missed 40 games in the 2023-24 season.
Herro, who will make $31 million this season in the third year of a four-year, $120 million contract, becomes extension eligible next month. He and the Heat could agree on a new deal that would pay him up to nearly $150 million over three years, or potentially the sides could table talks until Herro becomes eligible for a four-year extension next summer that could top $200 million.
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FILE - Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) reacts to a win over the Atlanta Hawks in an NBA play-in tournament basketball, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco is under huge pressure to win its second Africa Cup of Nations trophy when it hosts Senegal in the tournament final in Rabat on Sunday.
Morocco won its first Africa Cup 50 years ago in 1976.
Hundreds of fans wearing the kingdom’s red-and-green colors were milling around the 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium hours before kickoff, many still looking for tickets.
Inside, members of the official Senegalese supporters’ club — some clad in green, some in yellow and others in red to make the colors of the Senegal flag – were dancing to drums and trumpets in a section behind one of the goals at least three hours before kickoff at 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT).
Their noise was drowned out when the Moroccan players took their first steps out on the field for a pre-game walkabout. Their Senegalese counterparts were welcomed by a deafening chorus of whistles when they emerged for their walkabout.
The team lineups were yet to be announced.
Senegal, which is also chasing its second African Cup trophy after winning the 2021 edition, will have to do without suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Habib Diarra.
Sadio Mané was to lead the Teranga Lions in what was likely to be his last Africa Cup match after taking part in six tournaments.
The Senegalese Football Federation decried a lack of "fair play" from the Moroccan hosts less than two days before the final, citing a lack of security, problems with the team hotel, training facilities and ability to get tickets for its supporters.
Defeat at the final stage would be a demoralizing blow for Morocco, which has invested heavily in soccer facilities and infrastructure before it co-hosts the 2030 World Cup. One of the most aggressive infrastructure buildouts in African sporting history fueled protests in October from mostly young Moroccans who feel other areas are being neglected. Key issues remain health, literacy and employment.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
Senegal players walk onto the pitch before the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Morocco fan waits for the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Senegal fans wait for the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
