The challenges faced by a football academy for girls in Nigeria

Every two years, football comes home... to Africa.This year, Afcom is hosted by Cameroon and, no doubt, there's plenty to criticise: dodgy calls by the ref, questionable Covid protocols and a deadly stampede that left eight dead.And yet football fans the world over are enthralled. Every day brings new twists: minnows have upset powerhouses, and stars who normally spend winter in the European leagues have shown up for their national sides. Today we asked what exactly it is that's got us riveted?

Every two years, football comes home... to Africa. This year, the Africa Cup of Nations is hosted by Cameroon and, no doubt, there's plenty to criticise: dodgy calls by the ref, questionable Covid-19 protocols and a deadly stampede that left eight dead. And yet, football fans the world over are enthralled. Every day brings new twists: minnows have upset powerhouses, and stars who normally spend winter in the European leagues have shown up for their national sides. So what exactly is it about AFCON that's got us riveted?

Salima Mukansanga, 33, became the first female referee to officiate a game at the Africa Cup of Nations when she oversaw the Zimbabwe-Guinea tie in this year's group stage. She sat down with FRANCE 24's James Vasina to tell us more about her journey and what her experience means for women in the male-dominated world of football.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.⁣

At a sharp whistle from Rwandan soccer coach Egidie Kayitesi, her players change their practice drills: the team splits into pairs, some kicking the ball and others throwing it. Kayitesi, 49, coaches AS Kigali, one of Rwanda's top women's soccer teams.

On the 23rd of January, President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the rice pyramid in Abuja. The unveling came with a lot of criticisms with industry players saying that the pyramid doesn’t match up with the present reality. Weeks after the showcase, the rice pyramids are now disappearing.⁣ ⁣

Delaying players and officials of your country’s national women’s football team for over three hours at the airport after a two-hour flight from Abidjan, following a hard-fought 1-0 win against their Cote d’Ivoire counterparts, on the pretext of conducting Covid-19 tests, is not how to welcome heroes back home.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Tuesday.

The purchases of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, even the sponsorship of Bayern Munich, are alleged versions of sportswashing - the practice of trying to boost a country's public image through sports. Sports Life reporter Hecko Flores explains how state-owned Gazprom, Etihad Airways and Emirates use football for their own, and their home country's, profit.

Patrice Evra, French football coach, and former professional player talk about his mission in Nigeria, Africa, and how he started playing left-back as a professional footballer. Evra who served as captain for both the English football club, Manchester United, and the France national team also talked about his early days at the Manchester United football club.

We look at British papers' reactions to a "bold" UK plan to process and resettle would-be migrants in Rwanda. Also, there's soul-searching in Senegal after the death of a pregnant woman who was refused a caesarean. Finland and Sweden accelerate their decision on joining NATO in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finally, cult British film "Bend it Like Beckham" turns 20!

25 years after reunification, all of Germany's top-class professional teams are from the old West Germany. The same goes for the 2nd division with the exception of Union Berlin. But there is hope, chiefly for RB Leipzig.