Africa’s World Cup fashion choices have been diverse and dynamic over the years, with some of the best efforts ranking among the most iconic football shirts ever seen, and others best resigned to the bargain bins.
The continent has regularly been at the forefront of World Cup fashion; be it the simple, timeless designs that heralded Africa’s arrival and impact on the grandest stage, to concept designs that have pushed boundaries and created storms of excitement upon their release, the continent’s efforts have consistently generated headlines.
Here ESPN reviews the worst and most ground-breaking designs of Africa’s World Cup participants past, while assessing whether any of the 2022 efforts could one day rank among the pantheon of great African kits.
Zaire 1974
Egypt wore an uncharacteristic green design in Italy in 1934 — before later switching to their familiar red colour — but sub-Saharan Africa had to wait another 40 years before their first qualification.
The pioneers were Zaire [now the DRC], and while their campaign was ultimately disastrous, as a fine generation were thoroughly and tragically outclassed in West Germany, they did provide the world with the first truly iconic African football kit.
