Cameroonian girls chase brighter future with football

Football gives young Cameroonian women hope for an alternative future in a country where men's football reigns supreme. In a society that is still deeply patriarchal, growing media attention on women's football is encouraging more girls to defy prejudices and consider a professional career. While their fierce determination may be changing attitudes, they still make many sacrifices. Why we are writing this article This report was produced as part of En Quête d'Ailleurs, an exchange programme between journalists from Switzerland and countries in Africa, eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. The theme of 2024 was the challenges of sport. A torrential downpour batters the stadium in Yaoundé on the last Tuesday in September. The noise of the water pounding on the tin roof is so deafening that it drowns out the sounds of footballs hitting the ground and shoes squeaking. From the top of the concrete bleachers painted in the colours of the Cameroonian flag, Christian Onana watches ...