{"id":20719,"date":"2026-01-06T11:26:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footwearmagazine.com\/?p=20719"},"modified":"2026-01-06T11:26:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:26:40","slug":"afcon-2025-runway-african-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footwearmagazine.com\/?p=20719","title":{"rendered":"AFCON 2025 Turns Team Arrivals Into A Runway For African Fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>2025 Africa Cup of Nations<\/a><\/span> in Morocco is doubling as a live runway for African designers, artisans, and streetwear labels. From embroidered kaftans to bespoke bogolans and diaspora\u2011inspired jerseys, national teams are using fashion to express identity, heritage, and pride on a global stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

National teams as style ambassadors<\/b><\/h3>\n

Several squads have stepped out in full traditional looks instead of just technical kits, turning arrivals into red\u2011carpet moments. Nigeria\u2019s Super Eagles appeared in embroidered green kaftans with matching hats, while Mali\u2019s Eagles wore black and gold or blue and white bogolan ensembles, and Zimbabwe\u2019s Warriors chose colourfully detailed suits that quickly went viral on social media.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most talked\u2011about looks belong to C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, reigning 2024 African champions. Nicknamed the Elephants, the team arrived in Morocco wearing Kita\u2011cloth trench coats with Adinkra symbols in white and gold thread over crisp white shirts and trousers, a luxury \u201c<\/span>pr\u00eat\u2011\u00e0\u2011couture<\/span>\u201d design by Elie Kuame, an Ivorian\u2011Lebanese designer based in Abidjan since 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

Designers and artisans in the spotlight<\/b><\/h3>\n

Elie Kuame, whose brand launched in 2006, positions his collections as luxury pieces that celebrate the diversity of African fashion. By dressing C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire\u2019s players in richly symbolic Kita and Adinkra motifs originating from Akan heritage, he brings ancestral codes into a contemporary luxury context watched by millions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another key creative name emerging from this tournament is Alvin Junior Mak, designer of the Democratic Republic of Congo outfits. Born in the DRC and raised in Paris, he produced the team\u2019s sculpted jackets in the DRC with local artisans, using the leopard motif associated with the squad and signing the pieces under JmakxParis, his sustainable ready\u2011to\u2011wear label.<\/span><\/p>\n

Local brands dressing national pride<\/b><\/h3>\n

For Burkina Faso, the \u00c9talons turned to domestic label Free Design for their official outfits. Designer Ahmed Ouedraogo created a white tunic with green and red stripes echoing the national flag, adding symbolic motifs on the collar and chest, and styling it with white trousers and a matching hat.<\/span><\/p>\n

These choices channel more than aesthetics. By commissioning Burkinab\u00e9 and Congolese designers and relying on local production, teams are using the tournament to support homegrown creative industries and showcase craftsmanship to international buyers, sponsors, and media.<\/span><\/p>\n

Global brands plug into African creativity<\/b><\/h3>\n

Global fashion and sportswear companies are also using AFCON 2025 as a platform to deepen their links with African culture. Amsterdam\u2011based streetwear label Daily Paper is collaborating with Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj on the Kech United project in Marrakech, a cultural programme that blends football, art, fashion, and music during the tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through a series of flagship events, Daily Paper is highlighting its long\u2011standing connection to African heritage and global youth communities. The partnership with Hajjaj, known for his bold, pop\u2011art portraits and patterned installations, reinforces how football can be a bridge between diasporic street culture and contemporary African creativity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Streetwear, sport, and diasporas<\/b><\/h3>\n

Belgian label Arte Antwerp and Adidas have teamed up on a special collection in the colours of Morocco\u2019s Atlas Lions. Worn by two players before their opening match against the Comoros, the capsule includes a beige knitted jumper with green Adidas stripes and red logos, a red sweatshirt with white piping, multiple red, white or black tops with coordinated detailing, and a black leather jacket.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Puma is making its presence felt on several levels. As official ball supplier, the brand created the Itri match ball, decorated with stars referencing Morocco and geometric patterns inspired by zellige, the country\u2019s signature mosaic art. Puma has also released, in collaboration with Olympique de Marseille, a series of jerseys in the colours of seven African diasporas in the city, including communities with roots in Senegal, the Comoros, and Algeria, whose national teams are competing in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.<\/span><\/p>\n

By linking product design to both host\u2011nation culture and diasporic identities, these collaborations show how modern football merchandising now moves far beyond replica kits. It taps into lifestyle, heritage, and the emotional ties fans hold to both their homelands and the cities where they live.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is doubling as a live runway for African designers, artisans,…","protected":false},"author":219894228,"featured_media":20720,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","pad_hide_post_author":"","csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"AFCON 2025 Turns Team Arrivals Into A Runway For African Fashion","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1364,1460,1455],"tags":[3043,3045,3044],"class_list":{"0":"post-20719","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fashion","8":"category-lifestyle","9":"category-sports","10":"tag-afcon-2025","11":"tag-african","12":"tag-african-fashion","13":"cs-entry","14":"cs-video-wrap"},"yoast_head":"\nAFCON 2025 Turns Team Arrivals Into A Runway For African Fashion<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/footwearmagazine.com\/?p=20719\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"AFCON 2025 Turns Team Arrivals Into A Runway For African Fashion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is doubling as a live runway for African designers, artisans,…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/footwearmagazine.com\/?p=20719\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Footwear Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/footwearmagazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-06T18:26:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/footwearmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fa5edq55.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"799\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"943\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alyssa J. 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