RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Sébastien Haller, who led host nation Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title in the last edition, has been ruled out of the tournament starting on Sunday because of injury.
The Ivorian Federation of Football said on social media on Friday that Haller will miss the event in Morocco because of an injury sustained while playing for Dutch team Utrecht. Haller reportedly injured his hamstring in a match against NAC Breda last Sunday.
He was to be replaced in the Ivorian squad by Aston Villa player Evann Guessand.
Haller missed the start of the 2023 Africa Cup because of an ankle injury but he returned to score winning goals against Congo in the semifinals and Nigeria in the final as the host team completed a remarkable turnaround after near elimination.
Haller became the team’s hero one year after returning from cancer treatment.
Ivory Coast begins its title defense on Wednesday against Mozambique. Host Morocco plays the opening match against Comoros in Rabat on Sunday.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Ivory Coast 's Sebastien Haller celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the African Cup of Nations final soccer match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Michael King is staying with the San Diego Padres.
The right-hander signed a three-year contract that includes two player options allowing him to become a free agent again after each of the next two seasons. The team announced the deal Friday.
Media reports said King will receive $75 million in salary from 2026-28 if he doesn't opt out of the contract.
King, who turns 31 in May, went 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 15 starts for the Padres last season. He missed time on the injured list with a pinched nerve in his right shoulder and then later with left knee inflammation.
San Diego lost frontline starter Dylan Cease to Toronto in free agency this month, and Yu Darvish is likely to miss the entire 2026 season following elbow surgery. King, however, rejoins a rotation that also features Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, who is expected back from Tommy John surgery.
King rejected a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Padres last month. They acquired him from the Yankees in the December 2023 trade that sent Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to New York.
In two seasons as a member of San Diego's rotation, King is 18-12 with a 3.10 ERA. He made 30 starts and one relief appearance in 2024, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA.
King was primarily a reliever with the Yankees. He is 31-29 with a 3.24 ERA and seven saves in 161 games (64 starts) over seven major league seasons with New York and San Diego.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FILE - San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King works against an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
