July 2, 2022
The brief from today:
Women’s AFCON kicks off today
The 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations starts tonight with the hosts, Morocco, taking on Burkina Faso in a Group A match. It’s the first appearance for Morocco in the tournament in 22 years, and they are a side in form, losing just once in their past 11 matches. Former Lyon women’s coach, Reynald Pedros, who won two Champions league titles with the French side, has helped oversee the Moroccan team’s improved performances. Burkina Faso, meanwhile, will be eager to impress, but two matches in the past nine months means their match fitness is lacking. Regardless, the participants in the tournament know reaching the semifinal will ensure automatic qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and that, combined with aiming to win the AFCON itself, should serve as ample motivation.
Euro U19 wraps up
The England U19 side are the winners of the 2022 Euros for that age group. After going down 0-1 to Israel, they overturned the scoreline, eventually winning the match 3-1 after extra time. England won this competition five years ago, with current Premier League players, Mason Mount and Aaron Ramsdale, part of that previous squad. The current side’s players, will also be hoping to progress through the ranks for club and country in similar fashion to their predecessors. Some, namely Carney Chukwuemeka, the scorer of the England’s second, has already made Premier League appearances for club side, Aston Villa, and will be looking for more next season. For now, however, they can enjoy their triumph over their continental rivals.
Chukwuemeka was one of England’s best performers in the competition
Summer school
Sampdoria striker, Francesco Caputo, has just received his degree in Administration, Finance, and Marketing. The 34 year old has played in both Serie B and Serie A since the 2008/09 season, and has 177 goals in 450 total appeareances. Before preseason kicks off from Samp next Wednesday, Caputo made sure to complete his studies, and even had some funny comments about his final exam experience telling Sky Sport Italia, “It went well, fortunately I shook off the tension and answered all the questions I was asked. It was tougher than being face-to-face with a goalkeeper in Serie A, because at least I feel at home in that situation.” Credit to him for completing a task he set his mind to.
The graduate