Dexter Lembikisa and his Jamaica national team progressed into the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday evening following a narrow victory over Guatemala.
The defender was one of two senior Wolves players on international duty this weekend, with Boubacar Traore’s Mali also in action in an U23 Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off.
Wolves.co.uk rounds up the latest international matches involving Julen Lopetegui’s men.
Dexter Lembikisa | Guatemala 0-1 Jamaica
Lembikisa had to settle for a place on the bench as Jamaica took on Guatemala in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday night. The right-back has been a regular for his national team throughout the competition, starting the draw against the USA as well as the win versus St Kitts and Nevis in the group stages which set up the last eight tie with ‘Los Chapines’. Arriving onto the TQL Stadium pitch in Cincinnati – where he was watched by Wolves teammate Yerson Mosquera, who is currently on loan in the MLS – on 64 minutes, Lembikisa had already seen his country take the lead through Luton Town’s left-back Amari’I Bell, but he was able to help the Reggae Boyz see out the closing half hour with an assured performance. He was, however, helped by the reflexes of goalkeeper Andre Blake, who was forced into an acrobatic diving save to hold onto the victory.
Jamaica face another tough task in the semi-finals with Lembikisa hoping to see more of the action when his country take on Mexico in the early hours of Thursday morning (3am kick-off).
Boubacar Traore | Mali U23 0-0 Guinea U23 (Mali win 4-3 on penalties)
Although he was unable to help Mali’s under-23s into the final of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations following penalty heartbreak against Morocco last Tuesday, Traore’s team experienced the joys of the shootout in the third-place play-off. The midfielder – once again wearing the captain’s armband for Mali – has played every minute of the tournament, and was on the field for 90 minutes in Tangier as the game ended goalless against Guinea. Unlike last time out when the Wolves man missed the first spot-kick, he opted not to take part in the shootout, and although Mali missed their first effort, goalkeeper Lassine Diarra was the hero for ‘Les Aigles’ as he saved Guinea’s fifth kick, leaving Mohamadou Lamine Ba to turn the ball home and secure third place in the competition for Mali.
