Cape Verde and Malawi will debut at their first ever WAFCON Finals, while Algeria shocked African powerhouse Cameroon by knocking them out in their second round and eliminating their chance to qualify for a third WWC Finals since 2015 in 2027. We also look at the eight finalists for the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League, the fifth edition of the annual continental club championships, with half of the teams’ debutants.
We also review the results from the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025, with Chad winning the title of the four team tournament while Afghanistan Women United—the new WNT for Afghanistan’s refugees which FIFA recently started—won their first ever match.
2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Second Round Qualifiers
The TotalEnergies 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the 15th edition of the continental championships, finished their second qualifying round at the end of October. The Finals next March/April in Morocco will also double as 2027 WWC Qualifiers for the Brazil Finals.
Second Round Qualifiers
The team mentioned first hosted the first leg.
Angola – Malawi (0-0, 0-2; 0-2 on aggregate)
In the first leg in Luanda on October 23, Angola did well to hold the Malawi Scorchers scoreless, particularly their OL Lyonnes striker Tabitha Chawinga, who repeatedly used her speed to attack Angola, but Angola’s defense held firm. In the return in Lilongwe five days later, history was made when Malawi defeated Angola 2-0 to capture their first ever WAFCON finals spot. I have been following Malawi since Tabith Chawinga (29) first went to Sweden in 2014 as an 18-year-old to join Krokom/Dvärsätts IF in their third tier women’s league, after a local journalist sent me links of some of her highlights as an exciting new import into Swedish football.
Her sister Temwa Chawinga (27) went to Sweden in 2017 before moving to China and the NWSL, where she has been probably the new player revelation over the past two seasons in the NWSL with Kansas City, leading the league in goalscoring in 2024 and 2025. Note: Temwa was a late scratch from the matches against Angola after suffering an adductor strain the week before in a league match for the Current; she is resting and hopefully will be healed to return for the NWSL playoffs.
I thought this day—when Malawi qualified for a major finals—was still years away and worried whether their Football Association could build a team around these two world class talents in such a small country population-wise and be competitive in qualifiers—they certainly have, faster than many thought possible, and congratulations to them and the nation. In the second leg, Faith Chinzimu (18) scored two goals in two minutes late in the match (82nd and 84th minutes) to send the crowd home delirious and Malawi to the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco with a chance to qualify for the 2027 WWC.
Chinzimu played at home with the Ascent Academy and trialed this spring with FC Nordsjælland of Denmark, Italy’s AS Roma and Hacken of Sweden before signing with the latter in July. Clearly the talent train is delivering more top young prospects out of Malawi and Chinzimu, their new national hero, is now in an excellent league to develop her career further, following in the path started by the Chawinga sisters.
Angola fell short of qualifying for their third Women’s African Cup of Nations Finals, after making the semifinals in the second ever tournament in 1995 and the group stage in 2002, the fifth WAFCON tournament held.
DR Congo - South Africa (1-1, 0-1, 1-2 on aggregate)
In Kinshasa in the first leg on October 22, DR Congo and the Republic of South Africa tied 1-1, with both goals coming in the first half. South Africa’s Kgaelebane Mohlokoane (31), who plays her club ball in DR Congo with TP Mazembe and is in her second season with the club, scored in the 42nd minute but Ruth Kipoyi (28), in her second season at Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia after previously playing with Galatasaray of Turkey, scored the equalizer for DR Congo in the first minute of first half stoppage time. South African goalkeeper Andile Dlamini (33), who has played with Mamelodi Sundowns at home since 2010, made some key saves in the second half to keep the score even. In the return match on October 28, Thembi Kgatlana (29) of Tigres UANL of Mexico scored the game and tie winner in the 91st minute at Dobsinville Stadium in Johannesburg after a forty-yard sprint with the ball.
Off the field, the South African Football Association (SAFA) needs to sort out its coaching and overall support for the WNT. Desiree Ellis (62) has been in charge since 2018 but did not travel to Kinshasa for the first leg and watched the second leg at home in Soweto (suburban Johannesburg) with federation officials in the stands. She has been out of contract since July 2024 and was working on a month-to-month basis; she was offered a four-year deal earlier this month but the two parties are still working through details. Banyana Banyana was coached by Ellis’s assistant, Thinasonke Mbuli, who won three collegiate titles as head coach of the University of the Western Cape since 2019.
After the second leg, Mbuli talked about what the WNT needs in order to progress to the 2027 WWC in Brazil from the Morocco qualifiers, including the South African women’s league starting earlier in 2026, rather than as traditionally in April. It seems to be an easy change to make as the teams will be back for pre-season training in January and SAFA runs the women’s league. Mbuli also wants to have more friendlies against top sides and encourage more players to join clubs abroad, with the few that have left home bound primarily for leagues in North America. The Federation has not yet set an international friendly for the women for later this month.
The South African Football Federation needs to keep Desiree Ellis as head coach of Banyana Banyana as she is an iconic coach in the country and a former national team player. If the federation doesn’t resolve the contract issues, another country will swoop in and sign her up ahead of the 2027 WWC. South Africa’s Federation needs to eliminate the chaos which has surrounded the WNT over the past few years, particularly around the 2023 WWC, over salary payments and poor logistics and management of friendlies (see: www.tribalfootball.com/articles/the-week-in-women-s-football-world-cup-groups-a-b-preview-calgary-foothills-exclusive-4463860). Note: at press time, Ellis signed a new contract with the South African Football Association.
Tanzania – Ethiopia (2-0, 1-0; 3-0 on aggregate)
Tanzania defeated Ethiopia 2-0 at home in Chamazi on October 22 in the first leg, with goals from Aisha Mnunka (20) of Simba Queens and Jamila Rajabu (17) of JKT Queens in a very controlled win, as Tanzania held the majority of the ball possession. In the second match in Addis Ababa, substitute Diana Lucas (24), who plays in Turkey with Kadin, scored the only goal of the match after an hour to give her side a 1-0 win and the tie 3-0 on aggregate. See our interview earlier this year with Loza Abera, an Ethiopian international, on the importance of these matches to her country: The Week in Women's Football: Loza Abera exclusive; Bhutan; Super League excitement - TribalFootball.com.
Tanzania currently has three WNT players with Juarez in Liga MX Femenil, defender Julitha Singano (24), midfielder Enekia Kasonga (23) and forward Opa Clement (24). Tanzania also has two players based in Egypt: defender Maimuna Hamis (28) of ZED and midfielder Hasnath Ubamba (19) of FC Masar.
Tanzania will participate in their third WAFCON Finals next year, after finishing in the group stage in 2010 and 2024. Ethiopia was trying for their fourth WAFCON Finals and their first since 2012, when they made the group stage, after finishing fourth in 2004 in South Africa and making the group stage in their debut in 2002 in Nigeria.
Namibia – Zambia (2-4, 0-3; 2-7 on aggregate)
In the first leg on October 22 held in nearby Johannesburg, South Africa, Zambia defeated Namibia 4-2, with Bay FC striker Racheal Kundananji (25) scoring a hattrick, while Ivone Kooper (26) of Ongos in Namibia scored a brace for the Brave Gladiators. In the return leg on October 26 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Kundananji scored the ultimate game winner in the 21st minute in a 3-0 win for Zambia to take the tie 7-2 on aggregate. Zambia is making their sixth appearance at the Finals and finished in third place in 2022, also qualifying for the 2023 WWC Finals for the first time.
Last summer, they made the quarterfinals at the 2024 edition of the African Championships held in 2025. Zambia’s head coach is former Swiss international Nora Hauptle, who was appointed in January, replacing controversial head coach Bruce Mwape, who led the side since 2018; a change was long overdue for multiple reasons. Hauptle has coached the national teams of Israel and Ghana at the senior level, and Switzerland at the U-19 level in the past.
Burkina Faso – Togo (2-0, 1-0; 3-0 on aggregate)
On October 24 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, second half goals by Rasmata Sawadogo (22) of Hakkarigücü Spor of Turkey along with a late penalty just before the end of the game by Adele Kabre (20)—who joined Laioning of China from Hakkarigucu Sport for the 2025 season—gave the Burkinabe a comfortable lead going into the second leg. Adama Congo (21), who has played club ball in Equatorial Guines, scored the game winner for BF four minutes into first half injury time in the second leg on October 28 in Lome, Togo.
Five Burkina Faso WNT regulars play for clubs in Morocco, with one each in Ivory Coast and Tanzania in Africa, and one playing in Spain. Burkina Faso made the group stage at the 2022 WAFCON tournament in Morocco—their first finals continent-wide tournament berth ever—but did not qualify for the 2024 event, held in the summer of 2025, also in Morocco. Togo has only qualified for one WAFCON Finals in 2022 in Morocco.
Algeria – Cameroon (2-1, 1-0; 3-1 on aggregate)
In the major upset of the first leg matches, Algeria dispatched Cameroon in Bir El Djir 2-1 on October 23, with both goals coming in the first half. Midfielder Ghoutia Karchouni (30)—who was born and grew up in France and is now with Servette of Switzerland after four seasons with Inter Milan in Italy—scored in the 23rd minute. She was capped by France at multiple youth levels and for France B but joined Algeria in 2023 and is scoring at a just under a one goal a game clip for the North African side. She played three games in the NWSL with the Boston Breakers in 2016 as well as at home with PSG and Bordeaux.
Fellow midfielder Marine Dafeur (31)—who was also born in France and played for the French senior side twice a decade ago and is now with Bristol City in WSL2—scored from a stellar free kick one moment after Cameroon defender Claudia Dabda (24) was sent off in the 34th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Dabda plays in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, joining Al Hilal in 2023 and became the first Cameroonian to ever score in the league She has also played for Dinamo Minsk in Belarus (winning three league titles and three cups) and Toulouse in France. Cameroon veteran Ajara Nchout Njoya (32), who joined Al-Qadsiah of Saudi Arabia in 2024 from Inter Milan of Italy, cut the deficit in half with a penalty kick in the 94th minute to narrow the aggregate margin going into the second leg.
In the second leg on October 28 in Douala, Dafeur scored again—this time in the 23rd minute—for another huge upset for the ages for the outstanding Algerian side, which has improved so much over the past few years. Cameroon thus missed the 2026 WAFCON finals, their first absence since withdrawing from the second tournament in 1995 at the quarterfinal stage. Cameroon made two WWCs in 2015 and 2019, advancing to the Round of 16 both times, and made the Intercontinental Finals in 2023, but won’t be at the FIFA Finals in 2027. Algeria made the Quarterfinals (finishing sixth overall) in the 2024 tournament, their fifth tourney after being eliminated at the group stage previously.
Egypt – Ghana (0-3, 0-4; 0-7 on aggregate)
In Ismailia on October 23, Egypt had some good attacks on the wings but couldn’t score and ran into a buzzsaw with Ghana, who wanted a chance to make their fourth WWC but their first since 2007 in China and their 14th out of the 16 WAFCON Finals held—finishing third on four occasions—including the latest event in 2024.
The Black Queens managed the game from start to finish to win 3–0. Forward Doris Boaduwaa (22) of ZFK Spartak Subotica of Serbia, Mavis Amponsah (19) of Ampem Darkoa Ladies in Ghana and Grace Asantewaa (24), in her third season with Juarez of Mexico after previous playing with Real Betis and DUX Logrono of Spain, all scored. Doris Boaduwaa then scored a second half hat-trick for the Black Queens in the second leg on October 28 in Accra in a 4-0 win, taking the tie 7-0 on aggregate.
For Egypt, Nedya Sawan (23) grew up in Oregon, played at the University of Portland—scoring 26 goals in 63 games—and in 2024 with the University of Alabama, ending with six goals in 21 games. She is currently with the NSL’s Vancouver Rise, making seven appearances this season. She joined the Egyptian WNT in 2025. Egypt has only made the African Finals twice, going out at the Group Stage in 1998 and in 2016, the latter in Cameroon.
Kenya – Gambia (3-1, 1-0; 4-1 on aggregate)
All the scoring came in the first half on October 24 in Nairobi as Kenya took a sizable lead into the return leg with a 3-1 victory. The visitors struck first in the 3rd minute through Fatou Kanteh (28), who was born and raised in Spain and currently is with Sevilla in Liga F, capitalizing on a defensive error by Kenya. The Harambee Starlets struck back quickly through Mwanalima Adam Jereko—who joined Kansas City Current in the NWSL in 2024 and is currently on loan with HB Koge in Denmark—scoring from the penalty spot, followed by a goal by midfielder Fasila Adhiambo (19) of Ulinzi Starlets in Kenya, to give the home side the lead at the 19th minute.
Just before halftime, Shalyne Opisa, who won the Uganda Cup in June with Amus College (defeating Kawempe Muslim LFC 1-0), added the third goal. Jereko again scored the winner in the 53rd minute in the second leg as Kenya coasted to a 1-0 game win and 4-1 aggregate win, held in Thies, Senegal. The Gambia has recently used five players from clubs in Liberia, two in Senegal and one in Ghana.
This is Kenya’s second WAFCON, after their debut in 2016. The Gambia has only tried to qualify for three tournaments since 2018 (2022’s event was cancelled because of COVID) and are still waiting for their WAFCON Finals debut.
Benin – Nigeria (0-2, 1-1; 1-3 on aggregate)
In the first leg held in nearby Lome, Togo on October 24, Nigeria’s goals (both in the first half) in their 2-0 win over Benin came from players based in North America (Chinwendu Ihezuo (28) of Pachuca—who has been outstanding in CONCACAF’s W Champions Cup regional club championship this year (see our column from last month: The Week in Women's Football: Speaking with Samya Hassani; A-League preview - TribalFootball.com) and Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto in the new Northern Super League. In the second leg on October 28 at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, defender Ashleigh Plumptre—a breakout star at the 2023 WWC who played in her native U.K. and joined Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia in 2023—scored the crucial goal in the 12th minute, though Yasminath Djibri (19), who plays at home with Ainonvi FC, scored a tying goal for Benin in the 61st minute but it wasn’t enough to keep 12-time WAFCON Champions Nigeria from advancing to their 16th consecutive African Finals (participating in every tournament).
Cape Verde – Mali (0-1, 4-2; 4-3 on aggregate)
Mali looked to be in control after Coumba Dembele (24), who was born in France, scored nine minutes from time to give Mali a crucial 1-0 first leg win in Praia on October 24 and travel home with a huge psychological advantage. That went out the window in an absolutely stirring match in Bamako as Cape Verde won 4-2 to take the tie 4-3 on aggregate and advance to their first ever WAFCON next year in Morocco, with a 2027 WWC bid at stake.
The island nation has about 500,000 residents and has only had a women’s football program for seven years. Interestingly, just a few weeks ago, their men’s side qualified (at home) to their first ever World Cup Finals in 2026 in Canada/Mexico/the U.S. They will be a popular team if their games are in the Eastern United States as they have a sizeable diaspora in New England, historically connected to the fishing industry.
In the second leg, Larissa Melo (23) of GD Aldeia Nova in Portugal tied the aggregate score at one in the 14th minute and Cape Verde was energized. They scored again three minutes later when Ivana Moreira (32) of Amora in the Portuguese second division netted and again through defender Eleia Vieira (25) of Real Sport in Portugal seven minutes later (24th minute). For Mali, Oumou Kone (25) of Mali’s Super Lionnes scored a brace in the second half but it was forward Evy Pereira’s (25) goal in the 73rd minute that ultimately sent Cape Verde through for their debut. Pereira is in her second season with Besitkas in Turkey after years with clubs in Portugal.
In July 2022, Kone scored two goals and assisted on a third, to help her side defeat the Netherlands 3–1 at the 2022 CISM World Military Women's Soccer Championship (the 13th edition) in Spokane, Washington; Korea Republic defeated the U.S. for third place while France beat Cameroon 2-1 in the Final Game. Kone also scored a brace for Mali in their 6-0 win over Canada.
Senegal - Cote d’Ivoire (0-0, 0-0; 0-0 5-4 on penalties)
Senegal needed penalties to advance to the 2026 WAFCON over Cote d’Ivoire after two goalless draws. Senegal qualified for their third consecutive WAFCON Finals—fourth overall—and made the quarterfinals in 2022 and 2024 and the 2023 Intercontinental Finals for the 2023 WWC in Australia/New Zealand. Ivory Coast was trying to make their third ever WAFCON, after 2012 and 2014, the latter in which they finished third, which also gave them a berth in the 2015 WWC in Canada.
It was a difficult defeat for Ivory Coast, which had appointed Reynald Pedros as their women’s national team head coach at the beginning of the year.
A native of France, Pedros led Morocco to the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) where they finished runner-up and, the next year, he led the North Africans to an unimaginable Round of 16 match against France. This came after opening the tournament with a 6-0 loss to Germany and then actually qualifying ahead of the Germans—after waiting for over 12 minutes to learn that they were in as Germany finished their draw against Korea Republic, which was tremendous drama to watch happening live on television (see: The Week in Women's Football: World Cup Groups review; Marta class; Morocco inspire; Pauw must go - Tribal Football).
Pedros also took Olympique Lyonnais Women to back-to-back French league titles while winning two UEFA Women Champions League titles. Pedros was replaced after the 2023 WWC by the Morocco Football Federation, who brought in Spain‘s 2023 WWC winning head coach Jorge Vilda, one of the most unpopular head coaches/sycophants in today’s game. The question now is, with Ivory Coast out of the WAFCON Finals and a 2027 WWC berth, will Pedros stay or will he be brought in by another team that qualifies for the 2027 WWC over the next year or so? It will be interesting to follow the career path of a very good coach.
At the finals next year, the field is now set, with hosts Morocco, reigning and 10-time champions Nigeria, Kenya and Burkina Faso, who have both qualified for just the second time in their history, along with six teams who were involved at the 2024 edition: Zambia, Tanzania, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana and 2022 champions South Africa, as well as debutants Cape Verde and Malawi.
Note: At press time, four other teams were selected to the 2026 WAFCON Finals, which CAF expanded to 16 teams from the originally planned 12 during the tournament at their Confederation General Assembly in DR Congo, certainly dampening the impact of the qualifiers (see above). Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Egypt and Mali were included based on their current FIFA WNT rankings. All four teams lost in the second round qualifiers, but now will move on to the finals in Morocco, which begin on March 17.
CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 Finals Set for This Month in Egypt
The CAF Women’s Champions League 2025—the tournament’s fifth edition—will be held from November 8-21 in Egypt at two stadiums: the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia and the Right to Dream Stadium in Badya, West Cairo. The tournament starts with a Group A clash between 2024 bronze-medalists FC Masar (Egypt) and 2022 champions AS FAR (Morocco) at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on November 8. The other two clubs in the group are debutants to the African Club finals: 15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) facing off with US FAS Bamako (Mali).
In Group B, defending champions TP Mazembe (DR Congo) plays ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) on November 9 They are joined in the group by Gaborone United (Botswana) and JKT Queens (Tanzania). ASEC and Gaborone are both participating in their first continental club final tournament.
Four of the eight finalists are debutants in 2025. CAF has increased the prize money by 52% over last year; in 2025 the CAF Women’s Champions League winners will receive USD 600,000, while the runners-up will take home USD 400,000.
Group A
FC Masar of Egypt is the host side and won the Egyptian Women’s Premier League title this year and is making it’s second appearance in the CAF Women’s Champions League. AS FAR of Morocco has qualified for every finals and won the title in 2022; they were runners-up last year to TP Mazembe. The Moroccans won the UNAF (North African Football Union) four team qualifying tournament with a 3-0-0 (W-D-L) record and 11 goals for and only one goal allowed. FC Masar of Egypt was second with a 2-0-1 record and 6 points (11-4 goals for/goals against) and moved on to the finals as the host side.
Mali’s USFAS Bamako won the WAFU (West African Football Union) Zona A Qualifiers and is making their Champions League debut.
15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea) won the UNIFFAC (Central African Football Federations Union) title for their first African Club Finals spot. They won the five team regional group with 10 points from a 3-1-0 record, one point over FC Ebolowa of Cameroon.
Group B
TP Mazembe of DR Congo is the defending CAF Champions League title holders and is making their third appearance at the finals.
Gaborone United were the surprise finalists from COSAFA (Southern Africa), defeating Zesco Ndola of Zambia 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in August. Zesco had eliminated continental powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the semifinal; Sundowns were Champions League winners in 2021 and 2023 and finished second to FAR Morocco in 2022, while Gaborone United defeated CD Costa do Sol of Mozambique. Gaborone head coach Willaim Moneme told the Guardian: “It’s a great achievement for the whole country. It is our first major cup. No other team, whether it’s age group or senior, at club or national level, has managed to bring a cup home.” United have won their last two league titles in Botswana. They were promoted to the top tier in 2023 and finished second in their first season. They will make their debut at the Egypt Finals later this month.
Gaborone United lost the COSAFA final last year 9-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw against the University of the Western Cape from South Africa. In 2023, Monene took Double Action Ladies to the final of the 2023 CAF Champions League COSAFA qualifiers where they lost against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The Botswana national women’s team has made the last two WAFCON Finals, making the quarterfinals in their debut in 2022, and the group stage in 2024, so the country’s women’s football program is making nice progress on the club and country front.
ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire) advanced from WAFU Zone B, defeating Bayelsa Queens FC of Nigeria 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 tie on September 5. This is ASEC’s first year in the CAF Finals.
JKT Queens of Tanzania won the CECAFA (Council for East and Central African Football Associations) Final on September 16 with a 1-0 win over Rayon Sports WFC of Rwanda; they will play in their second continental finals.
Chad wins the title at the FIFA United Women’s Series 2025 while Afghanistan Women United record their first international victory.Last month, this column discussed FIFA’s new Afghanistan Refugee Women’s National Team (known as Afghanistan Women United) playing in the new FIFA Unites Women’s Series 2025 tournament to be held in the UAE, along with Chad and Libya, who both had not played much in the past, but the two African sides will now qualify to be ranked in the next FIFA Women’s National Teams rankings (see: The Week in Women's Football: Matt Beard's passing; Mata and Chiellini Bristol City investment - TribalFootball.com). The tournament was originally due to be held in the UAE but then was moved to Morocco after the Afghanistan women’s players were not given visas to visit to UAE, having been told to go to their local airports but then advised not to fly, with Tunisia replacing the UAE.
Chad won the tournament championship with nine points from three wins, defeating the Afghanistan Women United side 6-1 on October 26, Libya 16-0 on October 29 and Tunisia 1-0 on November 1, with all games held in Berrechid. In the crucial last match against Tunisia, forward Solange Larkingam (23), who plays in Morocco with Raja Ain Harrouda in Division 1 Feminine, scored her seventh goal of the tournament in the 29th minute to defeat Tunisia, who finished with six points.
The next step for Chad, which played its first international in 2019 against Algeria in an Olympic Qualifier, is to participate in the next WAFCON qualifying tournament—they withdrew ahead of the first round of qualifying for the 2022 tournament with Equatorial Guinea, who advanced to the second round in a walkover. Chad had three players based with clubs in Morocco and one playing in Cameroon, with the rest of their roster home-based for the FIFA tournament.
Libya lost all three matches, losing 16-0 against both Chad and Tunisia and 7-0 against Afghanistan. Afghanistan lost to Chad 6-1, Tunisia 4-0 but defeated Libya 7-0. Manozh Noori, who plays with Melbourne Victory FC AWT (in the seventh tier in Australia) scored the new team’s first ever goal against Chad and scored again in the win over Libya. Libya has only tried to qualify for the WAFCON twice in 2016 and 2018, losing to Egypt 12-0 on aggregate in 2016 and 15-0 to Ethiopia two years later.
For Afghan Women United, eleven of their side play for Melbourne Victory FC AWT, which started a team in 2022 for a number of former Afghanistan WNT members who emigrated to the country after the Taliban took over their homeland (see: The Week in Women's Football: Interview with beach soccer star Leslie; A-League moves; Afghani national team in Melbourne - Tribal Football).
Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women’s football. Get your copy today. Follow Tim on X: @TimGrainey