AFCON equipment rankings – 24 groups, 18 producers go from boring to daring

The Africa Cup of Nations has contributed a few of the most eye-catching and memorable kits within the historical past of soccer.

Nobody can overlook South Africa’s 1996 design – prompting Nelson Mandela to slide into the chaotic Kappa design – or Cameroon’s sleeveless effort in 2002. The years have handed, however these two contributions to the African soccer catwalk – and lots of others – nonetheless maintain a valuable place within the hearts of sartorially minded supporters.

Will any of this 12 months’s equipment collections – contributed by 18 totally different producers — take their place within the pantheon of all-time nice AFCON kits?

24. Namibia

The Namibian Soccer Affiliation withdrew a few of the supposed Namibian designs on the eve of the match as a result of colors being paying homage to these related to the SWAPO Social gathering, at the moment the dominant social gathering within the nation’s parliament, on this an election 12 months.

It stays to be seen whether or not Umbro’s away white equipment, with blue and pink gradient bands paying homage to the Russian tricolour, will nonetheless be used.

𝐊𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐍

The brand new Courageous Warriors AFCON equipment has been withdrawn and won’t be utilized in AFCON24 following outcry from political figures and most of the people over the SWAPO Social gathering Colors.

Jochen Traut, NFA’s appearing secretary-general, confirmed it to SportWrap. pic.twitter.com/AD7Y0zcma0

— 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐚 🇳🇦 (@FootyNamibia) January 10, 2024

23. Tunisia

World Cup qualifiers who did not decide to stay with their Qatar equipment, the important thing design component of this Tunisia effort is a graphic of the Amphitheatre of El Jem – one of many nation’s historic Roman landmarks – transposed on the physique of the equipment.

Not as modern as we’d anticipate from Kappa, with a uncommon collared entry – distinctive amongst Nations Cup groups this time round – whereas somebody additionally thought it was a good suggestion to channel Chelsea and go for an iridescent emblem. It wasn’t.

22. Zambia

A disappointing contribution from Zambia and KoPa, with the copper equipment simply not as…copper-y…as we had been hoping for.

The Chipolopolo seemed so class after they received the title in 2012, and there is a sense that the producers aren’t benefiting from one of the crucial distinctive color combos in world soccer.

The away equipment, as memorably worn on the Girls’s World Cup in 2023, lifts the gathering, with a vertical copper-black design on a inexperienced base.

21. Mozambique

Simple and inoffensive stuff from Mozambique, the primary fruit of their partnership with Viper Sportswear. Os Mambas have a pair of fundamental pink and yellow dwelling and away kits for the match, every set off with a black trim.

20. Cameroon

Little-known producers One All Sports activities have been one of many hallmarks of Samuel Eto’o’s tenure as FECAFOOT president, though they bought off to a stuttering begin with some poorly acquired kits in 2022.

The World Cup designs – with chest-plate motifs – have been retained for the Nations Cup, regardless of rumours of a brand new ‘leopard print’ design being unveiled forward of the AFCON.

Contemplating the enduring Cameroon kits of the previous, it is an underwhelming contribution for the five-time champions.

19. Algeria

Adidas and Algeria take pleasure in a long-standing relationship, and whereas they’ve collaborated on some memorable designs over time, their newest is not significantly eye-catching.

The house equipment is a white effort with blurred inexperienced strips down one aspect, with the away design an inversion of the color scheme. The blurred graphic would not marry properly with the daring Adidas stripes on the shoulders, and even the gold trim cannot save this one.

18. Ivory Coast

Puma someway managed to make a brilliant orange equipment insipid, having chosen a very staid and mundane shade for the hosts. It is all a bit Dutch, with the orange not as vibrant because it was, and no signal of the inexperienced trim that set off the Golden Technology’s greatest efforts.

The ‘texture’ on the physique of the shirt comes seems to be ironed on, making it a bit cheesy, and contemplating a few of the glorious work Puma have completed with the Elephants previously, extra may have been anticipated.

For the away design, the hosts are nonetheless of their 2022 white equipment with the unflattering field design that was worn by 12 of the contributors on the World Cup. It is a disgrace the hosts did not advantage recent designs.

17. Mauritania

Two pretty understated contributions from Mauritania, though we applaud the modern use of foil for the equipment’s numbering.

Each the house and away kits have distinctive material designs across the crew crest, a novel little contact by producers AB Sports activities, though – just like the crew – we’re fearful these additions might be misplaced within the shuffle.

16. Equatorial Guinea

Macron’s ‘thunderbolt’ material feels a bit of bit prefer it was designed by an toddler, even when it’s a nod to the nation’s ‘Nationwide Thunder’ nickname. Nevertheless, the distinctive two-tone collar is a cool contact on the house design.

For the white and blue away and third kits, we’re impressed by the nationwide flag fading vertically via the center of the shirt, placing Italy-inspired Equatorial Guinea sixteenth in our AFCON equipment rankings.

15. Tanzania

Center-of-the-field dwelling entry by the Taifa Stars, who started a partnership with Dar es Salaam-based outfitters Sandaland – additionally accountable for equipping home heavyweights Simba SC – final 12 months after parting methods with Uhlsport.

The material has a Tanzanite Gem texture to it, and the blue and yellow makes a enjoyable combo for this considerably light-weight Tanzania crew.

The thick-striped yellow and blue away equipment, set off with a inexperienced collar and skinny stripes down the center is a winner, and may stand other than the remainder of the pack.

14. DR Congo

Somebody at Umbro appeared decided to get as many various shades of blue into this design, and whereas followers of that color will certainly recognize it, the equipment is not actually ‘leopard-y’ sufficient for us.

We can also’t determine what we take into consideration the considerably random brilliant pink design on the appropriate sleeve (however not on the left). Fairly why Umbro determined to incorporate this after taking the mantle from Irish producer O’Neills, nobody is aware of, though it continues to be a thriller why the DRC – accountable for arguably the best ever African equipment, for the 1974 World Cup – proceed to fall in need of their potential.

The away equipment lifts the gathering, with three (presumably) leopard-claw scratches, within the nationwide colors, adorning the shoulder and chest.

13. Ghana

The house equipment does the enterprise, and is strictly what’s required for a Ghana equipment. Acquainted to followers who watched them within the World Cup; crisp white equipment, large black star within the centre, Ghana flag trim on the sleeves and collar. Clear, easy, eye on the element.

Nevertheless, their comparatively low placement in our rating – regardless of such a sterling dwelling equipment – is that depressing away effort, the place Puma have insisted on persevering with this pink equipment with an overbearing yellow field design within the centre.

It is concurrently too cluttered, and too plain, and is definitely higher suited to being coaching put on than in-match apparel.

12. Egypt

Is that this a equipment becoming for Mohamed Salah to lastly get his arms on the Nations Cup? We’re unconvinced. The Puma pinstripes are pretty, at the least at first look, however why do not they go to the perimeters of the shirt?

The pinstripes’ failure to go the space leaves this one feeling a bit of half-hearted, and there is little worse than half-hearted pinstripes.

The Egyptian flag trim on the collar and sleeves is elegant, whereas the exceptional seven stars atop the nationwide crew crest – one for every of the Pharaohs’ AFCON wins — go an extended technique to salvaging this one.

For the away equipment, Puma supplied a modification on their ‘field’ template with a round design within the centre. Aside from that, a white shirt with black trim is unlikely to set pulses racing…

11. Guinea

The pinstripes on Guinea’s dwelling equipment at the least seem a bit of extra dedicated than these on Egypt’s design, and go all the way in which as much as the shoulder earlier than halting abruptly.

The away design is eye-catching – if a bit of random — with a easy white base offset by skinny diagonal inexperienced and yellow stripes, and a thicker pink block behind the membership crest.

At the least Puma did not afflict Guinea with that acquainted (and unpopular) ‘field’ design template.

10. Gambia

There’s A LOT happening with this equipment…most likely, if we’re being trustworthy, a bit of an excessive amount of. The huge scorpion (lobster?) on the shoulder is bound to be terrifying for Gambian gamers and opponents alike, and we recognize the flag splashed like a rainbow throughout the chest.

It is meant to characterize the River Gambia, flowing via the center of the nation, and Germán producers Saller had been clearly so happy with their concept that they stamped their identify on BOTH the chest and the shoulder of the equipment.

We did not get spherical to analysing the physique of this overly busy design, so exhausted had been we trying on the higher half of this equipment!

9. South Africa

Not the ‘Rainbow Nation’ design of yesteryear, however Le Coq Sportif have stored issues easy and fashionable, whereas additionally sustaining a vibrancy about these kits, which had been already worn by Banyana Banyana on the Girls’s World Cup final 12 months.

SAFA proceed to insist on having two federation logos on their equipment – one on every chest – but it surely’s a design that works, with the golden dwelling equipment set off by a sublime darkish inexperienced trim on the neck and (curiously) on the left sleeve.

The house equipment actually fits a beaming Percy Tau, whereas the darkish green-and-gold away design can also be a success.

8. Angola

It seems to be like Angola will nonetheless be retaining their scrumptious spiral-design dwelling equipment, with concentric circles surrounding the crest, adorned with a novel conventional sample.

It was an outstanding providing from Portuguese producers Lacatoni again in 2019, and we’re not complaining if the Palancas Negras determine to present these placing designs one other airing.

7. Cape Verde

Huge factors for Cape Verde and Tempo, who ditched the enormous shark on the physique of their former equipment and as a substitute opted to map out the island nation’s archipelago, a design – full with compass — that is certain to turn out to be useful for any seafaring supporter.

The blue shirt is ready off by an aesthetic pink trim, and the white away equipment – additionally replete with pink trim – is effortlessly elegant, even when the map is barely perceptible within the design.

6. Nigeria

Nigeria set the bar so excessive in 2018, they’ve discovered the Russia World Cup effort a tough, onerous act to comply with.

This 12 months’s dwelling design by Nike is texture upon texture, inexperienced upon inexperienced…with a flying eagle hovering throughout the centre. It is busy, with out actually being placing, however a strong sequel from Nike.

The away equipment, nonetheless, threatens to be among the finest kits of the entire match. Nike have channelled a few of the stunning mid-90s deigns to provide a white shirt, with darkish inexperienced trim, and a placing conventional material design throughout the shoulders.

5. Guinea-Bissau

This Guisport-Guinea-Bissau assortment has grown on us since our final AFCON equipment energy rating – once we positioned them tenth – with the designs bringing actual joyfulness and vitality to the social gathering.

The islanders are benefiting from a partnership with a neighborhood producer eager to carry some character to the kits, despite the fact that we’re nonetheless getting golf course vibes from the inexperienced strip they wore of their opener in opposition to the Ivory Coast.

4. Burkina Faso

One of the crucial eye-catching objects in the entire match, each dwelling (inexperienced) and much more profitable away (white) have a background of tribal material , with the nation’s flag tearing via the center of the child in a non-centred sash.

The jagged sash design gives the look of the shirt being ripped away to disclose the nation’s flag – actually the ‘under-armour’ of every participant — whereas the green-red trim on the sleeves and underarms actually units this design off.

It is an bold effort from native model Tovio (who changed Kappa in 2021), and will get a giant thumbs up from us.

3. Senegal

Puma are nonetheless sticking with the World Cup 2022 design for Senegal, with the daring chevrons throughout the chest giving the equipment a stunning retro really feel.

The pink on the trim is a nod to the enduring technology of 2002 that reached the World Cup knockouts, though the unlucky ‘field’ template lets down the inexperienced away equipment.

It feels a obvious oversight that neither Cameroon nor Senegal have a lion on their jersey.

2. Morocco

If one thing’s not damaged, do not change it! No matter Morocco’s heroics in Qatar, the Atlas Lions’ 2022 Puma design was an prompt basic that harked again to the implausible equipment of the ’98 World Cup technology.

It was a prime dripping with nostalgia, and is now immortalised by the North Africans’ run to the semifinals.

The clear, basic white away design is a delight as properly.

1. Mali

Airness are again once more with some dazzling Mali kits, having received over many admirers with their daring designs on the final Nations Cup.

The large eagle – slap bang within the coronary heart of the equipment – is again once more, like a Pokemon evolution of the 2022 incarnation, with its wings of flames, directing its assault straight on the West Africans’ adversaries.

So vicious is that this explicit creature, that the equipment additionally options eagle scratches down the flanks, with the white background actually making the colourful colors pop.

As if the eagle is not sufficient animal {hardware}, the Airness emblem additionally contains a black panther, and if Mali are ever going to finish their wait to win the Nations Cup, this may very well be the equipment by which to do it.