The Africa Cup of Nations has contributed some of the most eye-catching and memorable kits in the history of football.
No one can forget South Africa‘s 1996 design – prompting Nelson Mandela to slip into the chaotic Kappa design – or Cameroon‘s sleeveless effort in 2002. The years have passed, but these two contributions to the African football catwalk – and many others – still hold a precious place in the hearts of sartorially minded supporters.
Will any of this year’s kit collections – contributed by 18 different manufacturers — take their place in the pantheon of all-time great AFCON kits?
24. Namibia
The Namibian Football Association withdrew some of the intended Namibian designs on the eve of the tournament due to the colours being reminiscent of those associated with the SWAPO Party, currently the dominant party in the nation’s parliament, in this an election year.
It remains to be seen whether Umbro’s away white kit, with blue and red gradient bands reminiscent of the Russian tricolour, will still be used.
𝐊𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐍
The new Brave Warriors AFCON kit has been withdrawn and will not be used in AFCON24 following outcry from political figures and the general public over the SWAPO Party Colours.
Jochen Traut, NFA’s acting secretary-general, confirmed it to SportWrap. pic.twitter.com/AD7Y0zcma0
— 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐚 🇳🇦 (@FootyNamibia) January 10, 2024
23. Tunisia
World Cup qualifiers who didn’t opt to stick with their Qatar kit, the key design element of this Tunisia effort is a graphic of the Amphitheatre of El Jem – one of the country’s ancient Roman landmarks – transposed on the body of the kit.
Not as sleek as we might expect from Kappa, with a rare collared entry – unique among Nations Cup teams this time around – while someone also thought it was a good idea to channel Chelsea and opt for an iridescent logo. It wasn’t.
22. Zambia
A disappointing contribution from Zambia and KoPa, with the copper kit just not as…copper-y…as we were hoping for.
The Chipolopolo looked so class when they won the title in 2012, and there’s a sense that the manufacturers aren’t making the most of one of the most unique colour combos in world football.
The away kit, as memorably worn at the Women’s World Cup in 2023, lifts the collection, with a vertical copper-black design on a green base.
