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FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG, Festac Town (2025)

21/07/2025

SPORTS BAR:
• Italy striker Retegui joins Al-Qadsiah from Atalanta
By Trevor Stynes

Italian striker Mateo Retegui has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah from Atalanta, both clubs said on Monday, with Italian media reports saying last season's Serie A top scorer has signed a four-year contract.

No financial details were released, but Italian media said that the fee paid is in the region of 65 million euros ($76.01 million) which would make Retegui the most expensive Italian player.

Retegui spent just one season at Atalanta, signing from Genoa as a replacement for the injured Gianluca Scamacca, and went on to score 25 league goals to help the club to a third-place finish.

"The Percassi family, the Pagliuca family and the entire Nerazzurri club sincerely thank Mateo for the extraordinary contribution he made last season and wish him the best for the continuation of his sporting career and for his future," the club said in a statement.

The Argentine-born Retegui qualified to play for Italy through his grandparents, and was called up by Roberto Mancini in 2023, scoring on his debut in a 2-1 defeat by England. The 26-year-old has six international goals in 20 appearances.

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the Saudi club on Thursday, having scored 21 goals in 36 matches in all competitions in his one season at Al-Qadsiah.

Source: Reuters

21/07/2025

FEMALE FOOTBALL:
• We have the weapons to beat England - Italy's Soncin
By Philip O'Connor

Italy scraped through the group stage and needed a last-minute goal to beat Norway in the last eight, but coach Andrea Soncin believes his side have what it takes to beat reigning champions England in their Women's Euro 2025 semi-final on Tuesday.

Soncin and his squad have spoken of their big dreams at this tournament and how overcoming adversity has brought them closer together, and they are confident they can beat Sarina Wiegman's side and secure a first appearance in the final since 1997.

"We have done very well in this event. There is a lot of courage, awareness and serenity. That is what has accompanied us throughout the whole event," Soncin told reporters on Monday.

"We are convinced that we have the weapons to win the game, and we have the utmost respect for the quality of the English players and their international experience."

England survived a heart-stopping penalty shootout that saw only five of 14 spot-kicks scored as they beat Sweden 3-2 in their quarter-final, and Soncin said that it was virtually impossible to replicate the pressure of a shootout in training.

"I don't believe that there is a specific way to train the penalties in a training session because there is the emotional aspect and also the physical aspect that come into play, but especially the emotional aspect which is not the same during a training session," he explained.

"Of course we, like everybody, we try to ... also train penalties so that we're ready for everything, our objective is to reach the final."

Soncin and Italy defender Cecilia Salvai, who also attended the media conference, offered their support to England's Jess Carter, who has withdrawn from social media due to the racial abuse she has received during the tournament.

"It is a cultural campaign (against racism), a cultural battle we have to fight all together. I don't know whether taking the knee is enough to change this, but for sure there is maximum solidarity from our side, we are ready to take part in any campaign to avoid this abuse," Soncin said.

"I hope she can play this game 100 percent because this is a semi-final, so I hope she can try to detach a bit from this episode. Of course, she's not the first one who's been victim of this abuse and we have the greatest solidarity for her," Salvai added.

Germany take on Spain in the other semi-final on Wednesday.

Source: Reuters

21/07/2025

FEMALE FOOTBALL:
• FIFA's Infantino offers support to England's Carter over racist abuse..We stand with every player who has suffered abuse - Infantino
By Lori Ewing

FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered the governing body's support to England defender Jess Carter after she revealed she has been the target of racist abuse during Euro 2025.

Carter, who is Black, on Sunday announced she is stepping away from social media for the duration of the tournament.

The 27-year-old has started all four of England's games, but struggled in their quarter-final win over Sweden on Thursday as the Lionesses conceded two first-half goals.

Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham condemned the abuse, and said the FA has been in contact with UK police, who are in touch with the relevant social media platform, to "ensure those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice".

"We stand with Jess. We stand with every player and every individual who has suffered from racist abuse.

No player should be discriminated against in any way, they should be free to be at their very best on the pitch," Infantino said in a statement.

"In this instance, we will be offering our support with any further action required, as well as sharing data for appropriate action to be taken against any perpetrators."

European soccer's governing body UEFA, Carter's club Gotham FC, the National Women's Soccer League, and the Lionesses all also posted statements in support of the player.

Carter's teammate Lotte Wubben-Moy said in an Instagram post that she planned to come off social media as well.

FIFA and global players' union FIFPRO reported that one in five players at the 2023 Women's World Cup were targets of online abuse.

They found 152 players out of the 697 whose accounts were actively monitored through the Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) designed by FIFA and FIFPRO received targeted discriminatory, abusive or threatening messages.

Players at the women's tournament were 29% more likely to be targeted for online abuse than players at the 2022 men's World Cup.

The SMPS tool was launched at the 2022 World Cup to help moderate hate speech on social media and hide harmful content. It was made available to all 211 member associations and their teams last year.

England forward Lauren James has been the target for online abuse, and told reporters recently that "the abuse never really stops. I'm used to it now so I kind of just brush it off my shoulder".

British tennis player Katie Boulter said last month that she had received death threats to herself and members of her family after matches.

Source: Reuters

21/07/2025

TENNIS:
• France's Boisson wins first WTA title in Hamburg
By Shifa Jahan

French Open semi-finalist Lois Boisson clinched her first tour-level title at the Hamburg Open on Sunday after a 7-5 6-3 win over Hungarian Anna Bondar.

In a clash of first-time WTA singles finalists, fifth seed Boisson came back from 4-0 down in the first set and a break down in both sets to secure the WTA 250 claycourt title.

The 22-year-old made waves last month in her Grand Slam main draw debut when she, ranked 361st, soared through the French Open as a wild card entrant, bowing out at the semi-final stage to eventual champion Coco Gauff.

"This is the first time I've given a (winner's) speech, so please bear with me," Boisson said before offering a simple "Danke" (Thank you) to the German crowd.

Boisson faced heartbreak with a first-round qualifying loss at Wimbledon, but found her form again on clay and is set to rise above her career best ranking of number 63 in Monday's updated WTA rankings.

Source: Reuters

21/07/2025

SPORTS BAR:
• Kenya gets new National Olympic Committee executive

Shandrack Maluki has been elected as the new President of the NOCK- Olympics Kenya (NOCK).

Athletics Kenya (AK), Youth Development Director Barnaba Korir securing the position of Vice President.

The results were announced during the ongoing NOCK elections.

21/07/2025

CAA U-18/U-20 Championships
• Uganda’s Samuel Simba Cherop won the U-20 African 10,000m champion crown

21/07/2025

CAA U-20 Africa men's 100m final in Abeokuta

Clinton Owatinya Kenya - 🥇
Karabo Letebele South Africa- 🥈
John Caleb Nigeria - 🥉

21/07/2025

SPORTS BAR:
• Germans eye England revenge in potential Women's Euro final repeat
By Philip O'connor

Germany are plotting their path to a potential revenge mission against England at the Women's Euros, with former international Melanie Leupolz already dreaming of a rematch of the 2022 final after the Germans' agonising 2-1 extra-time defeat.

First, both teams must navigate tricky semi-final hurdles, with England facing Italy on Tuesday before Germany take on reigning world champions and tournament favourites Spain a day later.

"It would be a good revenge, that would be amazing, so fingers crossed they win against Spain and make it to the final," Leupolz said at an Adidas event in Zurich on Sunday.

There was no shortage of drama in the quarter-finals, with England edging Sweden in a hair-raising penalty shootout, Italy scoring a last-minute winner against Norway, and Germany beating France on penalties to set up an intriguing pair of semis.

"I won't underestimate Italy, I think they are playing a good tournament, a lot of passion and just giving it all. So I think it will be very difficult for England as well," Leupolz, who played for London club Chelsea for four years until 2024, said.

"I think they (England) had a few ups and downs during the tournament, some good performances, some not so good. So I think they have to have a good day on this day to win against Italy."

Germany recovered from an early red card and the concession of an early goal to draw 1-1 with France after extra time before going on to win 6-5 in the shootout to send them into the last four.

Having gone from playing for the team to cheering them on from the sidelines, the 31-year-old Leupolz said that retirement had left her with mixed feelings.

"I already miss the 90 minutes of football for sure, but everything around the travelling, the trainings, everything you have to invest, I think I won't miss," she explained.

"I think it was the right time, but when I see games like yesterday, just like really highlight games, the 90 minutes, I will miss for sure."

"Just fingers crossed for Germany. But I think after yesterday's game with so many challenges, I think they just take all of the confidence they got from yesterday and take it into the semi-finals against Spain."

Source: Reuters

21/07/2025

TENNIS BITS UPDATE:
• Team Rwanda hits Gaborone for Davis Cup
By Trust Ittai with additional report by NTR

Rwanda’s men’s national tennis team arrived in Gaborone, Botswana on Sunday, July 20, ahead of their participation in the 2025 Davis Cup Africa Group V, scheduled for July 20-26.

Rwanda is one of 15 countries participating in the men’s national teams competition which also includes hosts:
✓ Botswana
✓ Cameroon
✓ Congo
✓ Djibouti
✓ Ethiopia
✓ Lesotho
✓ Libya
✓ Madagascar
✓ Mauritania
✓ Mozambique
✓ Seychelles
✓ Sudan
✓ Tanzania
✓ Uganda

The team will be represented by four players namely:
• Etienne Niyigena
• David Manzi Rwamucyo
• Claude Ishimwe
• Dieudonné Habiyambere - Captain

In the 2024 edition, Rwanda was relegated to Davis Cup Africa Group V after finishing at the bottom of Group IV 1 with a 2-1 lost to the hosts Angola in a relegation playoff.

Only Niyigena is returning to the 2025 team.

Hakixumwami was expected to travel with the team on Saturday night but he cancelled the trip due to visa issues.

21/07/2025

HISTORY MAKERS:
• Botswana's Justice Oratile has made history by completing an impressive 200m and 400m double at the African U-18 & U-20 Championships in Abeokuta.

He crossed the finish line in 21.02 seconds to take the gold medal in the 200m.

Justice Oratile claimed victory in the men's 400m, clocking a brilliant 45.58s

21/07/2025

WAFU B U-20 BOYS CUP:
• Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire final..Ghana misses final after losing to defending champions Côte d'Ivoire
By Trust Ittai

Nigeria's Flying Eagles and the Young Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire are through to the final of the 2025 WAFU B U-20 Boys Cup Competition.

Nigeria defeated Niger Republic on penalties 4-3 in the semi finals ‎after a goalless draw in regulation time.

On the other hand, Ghana failed to make the final of the 2025 WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys Cup on Sunday after losing 2-1 to Ivory Coast in their semi-final showdown.

The Black Satellites, as they are called, locked horns with the Young Elephants today at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, where the tournament is being played in Ghana to fight for a place in the final.

Ghana scored early through talented prodigy Benjamin Tsivanyo, but Côte d'Ivoire pushed back and scored to make it 1-1 before the break.

After the break, a fierce battle ensued between the two teams in their bid to find the net to claim victory.

Defending champions Côte d'Ivoire managed to score despite Ghana seeing a lot of the ball as the Young Elephants defended gallantly to cruise to a 2-1 win at full-time.

Meanwhile, Ghana and Niger will also clash in the third-place playoff match.

Both the third-place playoff match and the final will be played on Wednesday, July 23.

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