
THE 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off last weekend with a joyous occasion in Abidjan, where hosts Ivory Coast activated the feel-good factor by defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-0.
The international tournament experience can often be driven by the performance of the hosts, setting the tone for how the carnival continues.
This being Afcon, it is not always as straightforward as that, not for the hosts or for any team participating, regardless of their reputation going into the tournament.

As football grapples with overloaded calendars and commercial pressure, the Mariners’ triumph reminds us why the game’s soul lives far from the spotlight, writes JAMES NALTON

As the concept of league games being played overseas has come about once again, JAMES NALTON writes how a club is not a club without its links to location, community and fans

Vermont Green FC’s viral Bernie Sanders tifo was more than a joke. It was a sharp critique of US soccer’s top-heavy capitalism and a celebration of grassroots power, writes JAMES NALTON