🇨🇲 Cameroon make their own WAFCON history, Salah's Trabzonspor debut, goalkeeper rabona | VAR
🏴 Scotland's new manager | 🤩 Ajax's next wonderkid | 🙈 Worst corner kick ever?
Malawi, it seemed, had written the defining story of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Scorchers were just one victory away from lifting WAFCON at their first attempt. Cameroon, however, had other ideas and made their own history by convincingly winning Sunday’s final 3-0.
Scroll down for more on Cameroon’s first-ever WAFCON triumph!
I’m running a $5 season ticket offer because I need your help to keep The Soccer Dispatch going!
Can you help me reach my target by the end of August? It would mean a lot!
Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah made his debut in the Turkish Super Lig, a goalkeeper in Scotland pulled off a rabona and a new 17-year-old wonderkid has emerged at Ajax.
Let’s take a look at everything 👇
Something historic
Cameroon added their name to the short list of Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday!
All the pre-match focus had been on Malawi’s incredible run to the final (see last week’s in-depth newsletter), but it was The Indomitable Lionesses that made history in Rabat.
Goals from Naomi Eto and Marie Ngah put Cameroon three goals up before half time and they cruised the second period from there. There’s a new superpower at the top of African women’s football!
Something Vietnamese 🇻🇳
Vietnam took another step towards defending their ASEAN Championship crown by beating Malaysia 2-0 in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
Rafaelson opened the scoring with this diving header. The Golden Star Warriors will host the second leg on Wednesday with a final against Thailand seemingly destined.
Something in Turkey 🇹🇷
Mohamed Salah made his debut for Trabzonspor, coming off the bench in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Kasimpasa on the opening weekend of the 26/27 Turkish Super Lig season.
The Egyptian played 32 minutes, created two chances and registered two shots, both of them off target. We’ll continue to check in on Salah at Trabzonspor. His home debut on Thursday in Europa League qualifying could be special.
Something audacious
Is there anything more audacious in the sport of football than a rabona?
Yes, there is - a goalkeeper doing a rabona! Aberdeen’s Marius Muller is now my favourite goalkeeper. He did this in the opening 10 minutes with the scoreline against Dundee still goalless.
What an icon!
Something wooly
Dijon supporters were able to try out some new technology at their first home game of the new season.
Their scarves have been embedded with chips that allow them to get through the turnstiles by scanning them. What’s the practical use of this? Not sure, but it’s cool!
Something Belgian in Scotland 🏴
Scotland have a new manager - former Monaco and Union Saint-Gilloise head coach Sebastian Pocognoli.
This Scottish newsletter writer can’t really explain what’s gone on here. I can only suggest the Scottish FA heard that fans wanted Postecoglou and got a bit mixed up…
Pocognoli has a decent record, but has only ever managed 107 games in his entire coaching career. This is a gamble!
Something unexpected
An interesting story from the border of Colombia and Ecuador where Erling Haaland’s face was found adorning 800lbs of cocaine discovered by police.
Did they choose the Norwegian striker’s face to put off cops like he puts off opposition defenders?
Something creative
This group of Sheffield Wednesday supporters couldn’t get tickets for their team’s opening league fixture away to Leyton Orient on Saturday.
Not to be deterred, they rented a nearby apparent for the day and watched the match from the balcony. Check out their celebrations when Wednesday scored from the penalty spot! 😂
Something warm 🥵
It was 33 degree Celsius in Munich over the weekend. You might have seen that Jamal Musiala fainted in the conditions as Bayern Munich played a pre-season game against RB Leipzig.
Nonchalant king Michael Olise, however, doesn’t feel heat. Man’s not hot!
Something 17 years old
Ajax have a strong track record of developing young superstars and they might have another one on their hands!
17-year-old Abdellah Ouazane scored this stunner for the Amsterdam side against Heerenveen in Sunday’s Eredivisie match. The young Moroccan has a bright future ahead of him.
Something else 17 years old
Something must be in the water in northern Europe because here’s another 17-year-old wonderkid making his mark!
Kevin Filling set up this goal for AIK in the Stockholm Derby, putting it on a plate for Johan Hove to find the back of the net against Djurgarden.
Something soggy 💦
To concede one goal thanks to a waterlogged pitch is unfortunate. To concede two is just careless!
AC Oulu and Rasmus Karjalainen were gifted two goals by FC Inter Turki in Sunday’s Finnish Veikkausliga match. FC Inter Turku still managed to win 3-2! AC Oulu needed an even deeper puddle.
Something in Texas 🤠
The Houston Dynamo marked the 20th anniversary of their first MLS Cup triumph with his impressive tifo!
They also invited their title-winning team of 2006 to their 1-0 win over the LA Galaxy. Houston are real contenders in the Western Conference. They have flown under the radar!
Something skewed
There has never been greater focus on set pieces in football than there is now.
By the looks of it, though, Brazilian lower league team Juventus SP need some more set piece training. Is this the WORST corner kick you’ve ever seen?
Something on wheels
Lens beat Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday to win the Trophée des Champions for the first time in their history.
The real highlight, though, was this little remote control car bringing the ball out for kick off at the start of both halves. This is Euro 2024 heritage!
Some TSD content you might have missed… 🗞️
🇲🇼 Malawi’s stunning WAFCON run is the best football underdog story for years
Only two weeks ago, I wrote about Malawi’s shock win over Nigeria in their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match.








