“Every day they just keep reminding me that I’m going to end up in a man’s house,” says Monday Gift. Playing football to the highest professional level has always been her dream but, like many other African families, the thought was not welcomed, especially coming from a woman. In most cases, women are expected to go to school, get a job and get married. “I agreed to go to school for them and play football for me,” she added. None of her family members ever came to watch her play until she competed at a big regional sporting event in 2012, a day she’ll never forget. Gift recalls the joy she felt as her name was announced as the competition’s top scorer and most valuable player (MVP). This was her chance to finally prove to her parents that there was a future for her in football. But it didn’t quite work out like that. Even after playing for the national team at the FIFA under-20 World Cup, her parents are still not fully convinced. Her mother still reminds her that her ultimate achievement would be to get married. For now, she plays for one of the most popular female clubs in Nigeria – FC Robo. Financial rewards only found…