Passion for pigeons persists in Egypt

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How would you rate the Super Eagles' performance in Tuesday’s AFCON Group D clash against the Pharaohs of Egypt? The Guardian’s Dennis Erezi reached out to Ifeanyi Andrew Ibeh to get his post-game thoughts on the game he had earlier predicted the Super Eagles would get the better of their Egyptian counterparts.

A half-volley by Kelechi Iheanacho sealed a 1-0 win for Nigeria against a lacklustre Egypt. Reigning champions Algeria's campaign to retain their title got off to an underwhelming start as they were held to a goalless draw by a spirited Sierra Leone. FRANCE 24's Selina Sykes is joined by sport editor Simon Harding and James Vasina to discuss all the action.

With a 3-1 victory over Sudan, Nigeria's Super Eagles secure their slot in the knockout stages and gain status as a tournament frontrunner. Favorites Egypt meanwhile gets their first win thanks to star striker Mohamed Salah and after a goal from Guinea-Bissau was disallowed after VAR review. Alison Sargent is joined by France 24's James Vasina and African journalist Usher Komugisha to discuss all the action.

The Super Eagles become the only team in the competition to win all three group games after beating Guinea-Bissau 2-0. Also in Group D, seven-time winners Egypt edge past Sudan 1-0 and clinch their spot in the last 16 after finishing in second place.

Persecution, prosecution and public shaming have led to a new wave of solidarity among women in Egypt. Could this kind of grassroots movement gain enough power to change the difficult situation on the ground?

The Pharaohs of Egypt claimed the enormous scalp of the Ivory Coast as they won their last 16 clash on spot kicks 5-4 in Douala on Wednesday evening. Eric Bailly missed the crucial spot kick for the Elephants while star man, Mohamed Salah converted to send his team through. The second game was almost a carbon-copy with no goals scored over 120 minutes between Mali and Equatorial Guinea. But it was the Northern Thunder who won 6-5 on penalties after Mali's, Falaye Sacko had his effort saved.

The Pharaohs played a goalless draw with the Elephants of Ivory Coast in Douala but went on to win after a penalty shoot-out. The seven-time champions are still on course to stretch their record.

FRANCE 24 spoke to Ramy Shaath, an Egytian-Palestinian activist who spent two and half years in jail in Egypt on accusations of aiding a terrorist group. He was a member of several secular political groups and a co-founder of the pro-Palestinian BDS movement. Shaath, who was never formally charged, described the conditions of his arrest, detention and finally his release from jail on January 8. He claimed "arbitrary detentions and arrests" increasingly account for "the majority" of inmates in Egyptian jails under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. He also said he understood that he was expected to keep silent following his release and had already received threats.

Egypt came back from a Sofiane Boufal penalty to claim a 2-1 victory over Morocco in their quarter final match on Sunday. Mohamed Salah equalised for the Pharao's before setting up Trézéguet in extra time to knock out the Atlas Lions. In the other game, Senegal's Sadio Mané returned to set up Famara Diedhiou for their opener only for Equatorial Guinea to respond through Jannick Buyla. But Cheikhou Kouyaté & Ismaïla Sarr made sure of the 3-1 win for the Lions of Teranga.

ECOWAS leaders hold an emergency summit in Ghana after a series of coups on the continent. Also, Mali's cotton sector is hit hard by ECOWAS measures after its military coup. In Nigeria, an explosion on an oil vessel off the coast sparks fears of environmental damage; the fate of 10 crew members is also still unclear. And Egypt beat Cameroon on penalties to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Egypt will be aiming to win a record-extending eighth Cup of Nations title when they face Senegal in Sunday's final.