Although many members of Julen Lopetegui’s first-team are set to return to Compton Park for pre-season training in the next week, some of his players are out representing their countries on international duty.
Boubacar Traore is with Mali under-23s in their U23 Africa Cup of Nations, Pedro Neto and Fabio Silva have featured for Portugal under-21s in the 2023 Euros, while Dexter Lembikisa has played for Jamaica as their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign got underway.
With matches underway for all four players, wolves.co.uk rounds up the action featuring the Wolves first-team players during the last week.
Boubacar Traore | Mali U23 3-1 Gabon U23
Having returned to fitness in time for Wolves’ final Premier League fixtures against Everton and Arsenal, Traore headed off to represent Mali in their U23 Africa Cup of Nations matches, which got underway on Sunday. Facing Gabon, Traore was in from the start and produced a stunning run and pass to put his side in front just before the break. Two early penalties had seen the game tied at 1-1 before Traore set flight from the halfway line, taking on several Gabon players before a curling low cross found Cheickna Doumbia to fire Mali ahead. The midfielder played the whole 90 minutes as his country claimed a 3-1 win having added a third in the closing seconds of the game.
The win took Mali to top of Group B with matches still to be played against Egypt on Wednesday (6pm kick-off) and Niger on Saturday. The top two teams will make it into the semi-finals.
Dexter Lembikisa | USA 1-1 Jamaica
Another Wolves player to feature for the full 90 minutes for their country this week was right-back Lembikisa, who was once again with the senior Jamaica side as they began their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign in the US. Despite their opponents having home advantage, the Reggae Boyz took the lead against USA inside the opening quarter of an hour. Demarai Gray’s free-kick met Damion Lowe inside the box, who planted his header beyond Matt Turner. Lembikisa was performing well in the Jamaica defence, before the Wolves man was unable to fully clear a dangerous cross into the box and Brandon Vazquez pounced to turn the ball home and snatch a late point.
Jamaica will take on Trinidad and Tobago in their second group stage match in the early hours of Thursday (12.30am kick-off), before finishing Group A against Saint Kitts and Nevis on Monday.
Pedro Neto, Fabio Silva | Portugal U21 1-1 Netherlands U21
After Neto featured in an opening 2-0 loss to hosts Georgia last Wednesday, the winger was joined in the Portugal attack by Silva for Saturday’s draw with Netherlands. It was not the start to the UEFA Under-23 European Championships that the young Portuguese team would have liked, finding themselves at the bottom of Group A going into their second fixture of the competition. But they shot up to second after Neto was found with a long ball ahead of the Netherlands defence before turning and firing a cross into the path of Andre Almeida who directed a first-time effort into the net. Portugal were maintaining their one goal lead when both Wolves forwards were withdrawn on 56 minutes, but eventually let it slip 22 minutes later.
If Portugal are to reach the knockout stages, they require a win over Belgium in their final group match at 5pm today, as well as Georgia to pick up at least a point versus the Netherlands.
