Andre Blaise Essama, a Cameroonian activist who wants to purge his country of colonial-era symbols dusts off the statue of Maurice Kamto, the Cameroon's main political opponent, exhibited in his house in Douala, Cameroon July 2, 2020. Picture taken July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Andre Blaise Essama, a Cameroonian activist who wants to purge his country of colonial-era symbols, is pictured in front of a statue of the unknown soldier, erected in memory of French soldiers, sailors and allies in Douala, Cameroon July 2, 2020. Picture taken July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Andre Blaise Essama, a Cameroonian activist who wants to purge his country of colonial-era symbols, cheers with his supporters in front of a statue of late international football player Samuel Mbappe Leppe, who is considered to be the greatest Cameroonian footballer of the time, in Douala, Cameroon July 2, 2020. Picture taken July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Andre Blaise Essama, a Cameroonian activist who wants to purge his country of colonial-era symbols, is pictured in front of a statue of the unknown soldier, erected in memory of French soldiers, sailors and allies in Douala, Cameroon July 2, 2020. Picture taken July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Andre Blaise Essama, a Cameroonian activist who wants to purge his country of colonial-era symbols, is pictured in front of a statue of the unknown soldier, erected in memory of French soldiers, sailors and allies, in Douala, Cameroon July 2, 2020. Picture taken July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Andre Blaise Essama, a Cameroonian activist who wants to purge his country of colonial-era symbols, cheers as he stands beside a statue of late international football player Samuel Mbappe Leppe, who is considered to be the greatest Cameroonian footballer of the time, in Douala, Cameroon July 2, 2020. Picture taken July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Andre Blaise Essama, a Cameroonian activist who wants to purge his country of colonial-era symbols walks beside his bicycle in Douala, Cameroon July 2, 2020. Picture taken July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Andre Blaise Essama, a Cameroonian activist who wants to purge his country of colonial-era symbols, walks beside his bicycle in Douala, Cameroon July 2, 2020. Picture taken July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Patients wait their turn at Saint Paul Catholic Hospital, to receive free concoctions made by Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of Douala, who claims that they have helped treat COVID-19 patients, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Douala, Cameroon June 9, 2020. Picture taken June 9, 2020. REUTERS/ Josiane Kouagheu

Boxes with concoctions made by Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of Douala, who claims that they have helped treat COVID-19 patients and distributes for free, are seen in the office of Saint Paul Catholic Hospital deputy director, Sister Solange Stephanie Ngo Kouya, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Douala, Cameroon June 9, 2020. Picture taken June 9, 2020. REUTERS/ Josiane Kouagheu

Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of Douala, who claims to have helped treat COVID-19 patients with concoctions he made by himself and distributes for free, walks at his cathedral's garden, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Douala, Cameroon June 1, 2020. Picture taken June 1, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of Douala, who claims to have helped treat COVID-19 patients with concoctions he made by himself and distributes for free, walks past some samples of the concoctions at his cathedral, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Douala, Cameroon June 5, 2020. Picture taken June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Concoctions made by Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of Douala, who claims that they have helped treat COVID-19 patients, are pictured at his cathedral, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Douala, Cameroon June 5, 2020. Picture taken June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

A patient presents his positive test results for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to Saint Paul Catholic Hospital deputy director, Sister Solange Stephanie Ngo Kouya, so to receive free concoctions made by Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of Douala, who claims that they have helped treat COVID-19 patients, in Douala, Cameroon June 9, 2020. Picture taken June 9, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Smoke rises over the neighboring houses after the fire tore through an overcrowded New-Bell central prison in the port city of Douala, Cameroon May 28, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Smoke rises after the fire tore through an overcrowded New-Bell central prison in the port city of Douala, Cameroon May 28, 2020. REUTERS/ Josiane Kouagheu

A truck of the National Gendarmerie is pictured in front of the prison as smoke rises after the fire tore through an overcrowded New-Bell central prison in the port city of Douala, Cameroon May 28, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

People from a neighboring house are pictured as smoke rises after the fire tore through an overcrowded New-Bell central prison in the port city of Douala, Cameroon May 28, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Prisoners stand on the roof as firefighters prepare to extinguish the fire at an overcrowded New-Bell central prison, in the port city of Douala, Cameroon May 28, 2020. REUTERS/Josiane Kouagheu

Prisoners stand on the roof as firefighters prepare to extinguish the fire, at an overcrowded New-Bell central prison in the port city of Douala, Cameroon May 28, 2020. REUTERS/ Josiane Kouagheu

French President Emmanuel Macron reacts during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron, next to French Health and Solidarity Minister Agnes Buzyn, speaks with an employee during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with an employee during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with an employee during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with an employee during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron, next to French Health and Solidarity Minister Agnes Buzyn, speaks with an employee during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with an employee during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron, next to French Health and Solidarity Minister Agnes Buzyn, speaks with an employee during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a visit at the AstraZeneca factory in Dunkirk, France January 20, 2020. Denis Charlet/Pool via REUTERS

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy attends a training session of U17 team in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy attends a training session of U17 team in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

A woman carrying her child walks past people sitting on train tracks as they watch a training session of the U17, a team of first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches of the Rails Foot Academy (RFA) at the RFA field in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 1, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, plays football with her friends outside her house in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 3, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

People stand on train tracks as they watch a training session of the U17, a team of first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches of the Rails Foot Academy (RFA), at the RFA field in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 1, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Ida Daniela Pouadjeu, 16, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy attends a training session of U17 team in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 1, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, plays football with her friends outside her house in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 3, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, plays football with her friends outside her house in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 3, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Soccer players Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, (C) and Ida Daniela Pouadjeu, 16, (R) who are amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, listen to a staff member after a friendly match with male U15 in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 4, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

U17, a team of first wave girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy (RFA) stand as they listen to their coach during a training session, at the RFA field in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Gaelle Dule Asheri (C), 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy walks at a bilingual high school where she prepares for her final baccalaureate exams in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, gets dressed to attend the training session of the female U17 team at the Rail Football Academy field in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 1, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy (RFA), attends a training session of the female U17 team at the RFA field in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 1, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

When Gaelle Asheri first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home in Cameroon's capital, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. Asheri, 17, and her teammate Ida Pouadjeu, 16, are now among the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy (RFA) in Yaounde. It was set up in January to foster female soccer talent in a country where many still see the sport as a man's game. Global interest in women's soccer is growing and FIFA hopes over a billion viewers will tune in to watch the Women's World Cup in June. Cameroon's national side, known as the Indomitable Lionesses, was one of three African teams to qualify. Its star player, Gaelle Enganamouit, was the brains behind RFA - the West African country's first female soccer academy. Her own experience as a young player in Yaounde showed her that it was important for women to have their own space to train, she told FIFA in January. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: SOCCER-CAMEROON/GIRLS

Ida Daniela Pouadjeu (L), 16, a soccer player, attends her training session with her U17 team, who are amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy at the Rail's field in Yaounde, Cameroon May 2, 2019. Pouadjeu is angry about people's attitude towards female soccer players. An orphan, she was brought up by her aunt who once warned her against playing football saying she would end up sleeping with all the girls at the academy. Pouadjeu says she uses that anger every day on the pitch. "I train hard to succeed and to prove them all wrong," she said. "I've seen Gaelle (Enganamouit) play on TV. I've never missed one of her matches. She plays so well, I want to be like her." REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A girl soccer player who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy (RFA), attends a training session at the RFA field in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 1, 2019. The academy was set up in January to foster female soccer talent in a country where many still see the sport as a man's game. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Ida Daniela Pouadjeu, 16, a soccer player who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, smiles as she sits on her bed in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 3, 2019. Pouadjeu is angry about people's attitude towards female soccer players. An orphan, she was brought up by her aunt who once warned her against playing football saying she would end up sleeping with all the girls at the academy. Pouadjeu says she uses that anger every day on the pitch. "I train hard to succeed and to prove them all wrong," she said. "I've seen Gaelle (Enganamouit) play on TV. I've never missed one of her matches. She plays so well, I want to be like her." REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Ida Daniela Pouadjeu (C), 16, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, is seen with her aunt Rosalie Tchamkou (L) and her sister Kevine at their house in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 3, 2019. Pouadjeu is angry about people's attitude towards female soccer players. An orphan, she was brought up by her aunt who once warned her against playing football saying she would end up sleeping with all the girls at the academy. Pouadjeu says she uses that anger every day on the pitch. "I train hard to succeed and to prove them all wrong," she said. "I've seen Gaelle (Enganamouit) play on TV. I've never missed one of her matches. She plays so well, I want to be like her." REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, celebrates scoring a goal with a teammate during a friendly match in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 4, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, plays football with her friends outside her house in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 3, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, plays football with her friends outside her house in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 3, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, eats and talks to her mother Fouda Marie-Bernadette as she sits on her bed in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 4, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, watches TV with her father Emmanuel in their sitting room in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, attends a course at a bilingual high school as she prepares for her final baccalaureate exams in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Gaelle Enganamouit, the founder of Rails Foot Academy (RFA), is depicted on the facade of a hairdressers' shop in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. Enganamouit, the star player of Cameroon's team known as the Indomitable Lionesses, one of three African teams to qualify for the Women's World Cup in June, was the brains behind RFA - the West African country's first female soccer academy. Her own experience as a young player in Yaounde showed her that it was important for women to have their own space to train, she told FIFA in January. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Gaelle Dule Asheri, 17, a soccer player, who is amongst the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy, leaves her house, as she walks to a bilingual high school in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. Asheri never gave up her dream despite strong opposition from her mother who feared she would lose her daughter to a "men's game". "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," she said. When she first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra SEARCH "CAMEROON GIRLS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.