Buhle Mbonambi
- AFCON 2023 is not just about football, but also a celebration of African fashion. Footballers are stepping out in stylish outfits, blurring the lines between sports and runway.
- This trend reflects the growing cultural influence of Africa and the recognition of footballers as cultural icons beyond the field.
- Fashion collaborations and endorsements are becoming lucrative opportunities for both footballers and major brands, showcasing the mutually beneficial relationship between sports and fashion.
The roar of the crowd, the electrifying footwork, the nail-biting goals – the Africa Cup of Nations is all about football passion at its peak. But step off the field, and another kind of magic unfolds: the captivating world of footballer fashion.
Gone are the days of plain jerseys and casual kicks. Today's African footballers are setting the sartorial scene ablaze, blurring the lines between pitch and runway.
The arrivals hall of Abidjan's Félix Houphouët Boigny International Airport, already showed us that this will be a stylish AFCON 2023, one that places the importance of culture and sporting prowess at the forefront.
It was refreshing to see the football teams, especially Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Namibia and Cameroon, made a special effort with their arrival outfits. So it would not be surprising that fashion will likely be a major focus at the AFCON 2023.
Fashion and Football
The rise of footballer fashion isn't just about looking good. It's a reflection of the growing influence of African culture on global trends, and the increasing recognition of footballers as not just athletes, but cultural icons.
As football clubs readily start to show images of their players arriving for practice, decked in their finest fashions, it’s creating opportunities for them that are beyond football.
Major fashion brands are also starting to taking notice and are partnering with players for lucrative endorsements, collaborations and campaigns. Football players are being invited to fashion week events, where they became as big an attraction at the basketball players and F1 drivers who are normally in attendance.
Sports & Fashion Designer Collaborations
South African fashion brands, Thebe Magugu and Rich Mnisi have designed football jerseys
South African football legend, Teko Modise, has bagged himself a number of fashion magazine covers, purely for his sense of style.
This mutually beneficial relationship allows brands to tap into the immense reach and cultural influence of footballers, while players get to express their style and connect with fans on a deeper level.
Ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON which kicks off on Saturday January 13, 2024, here are the 6 CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 stars leading the style game.
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Terem Moffi (Nigeria)
Sébastien Haller (Côte d'Ivoire)
So fasten your seatbelts, for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023 isn't just a football tournament, it's a fashion revolution about to explode onto the African stage.
MAIN IMAGE HEADER: Pictures sourced from players Instagram accounts.