The authorities have linked sport to nation building and tourism, and thrown their weight behind football.
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Nigeria leads in the rankings of the four African teams. Two others are making debut World Cup appearances and there’s a storm cloud over South Africa.
There was a significant shift towards African football as a business rather than football as development.
The Wafcon final on Saturday is proof of the development of the women’s game on the continent - and of mining star players abroad.
Twelve teams remain after the qualifying rounds of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations - with Nigeria no longer automatic favourites as the competition diversifies.
