The best outfits at AFCON 2025 Teams turned their arrival in Morocco into a tunnel fit
There was a time when the Africa Cup of Nations was seen as a secondary competition, an inconvenient calendar anomaly for clubs forced to release their players mid-season. A so-called minor tournament, often associated with stadiums and pitches that failed to match the talent on display. That perception no longer holds. The 2025 edition has firmly established AFCON as a competition of undeniable prestige, capable of captivating fans well beyond the pitch. This shift is also reflected in the attention to detail shown by the participating national teams, many of which arrived in Morocco with carefully curated, statement-making looks.
Mali
In most cases, federations chose to honour their countries’ stylistic and cultural heritage. Mali, for instance, touched down in Morocco wearing ensembles made from Bogolan, the nation’s traditional fabric, reimagined through tunics and caps in two different colourways. Players wore a grey version with blue inserts to complement a total white look, while the coaching staff opted for a bold geometric pattern alternating ochre and black.
Nigeria, Benin, Senegal and Burkina Faso
Tradition also inspired the look chosen by Nigeria: a total green kaftan elevated by floral detailing along the sleeves and central fastening. Benin embraced a cooler palette, opting for layered shades of grey arranged in vertical stripes. Senegal went for a clean full-white ensemble accented with gold details, while Burkina Faso injected colour into a white jacket through red and green vertical striping.
Comoros, South Africa and Zimbabwe
Some federations leaned towards a more contemporary, relaxed aesthetic. The Comoros Islands, for their opening match against Morocco, wore a tailored EMIR ensemble featuring a white Mandarin-collar shirt paired with grey trousers and jacket. South Africa opted for a monochrome green suit offset by a crisp white shirt. Zimbabwe also chose a classic suit silhouette, but brand 4May International added distinctive details: colourful accents on the sleeves, pockets and shoulders, alongside the white outline of The Great Zimbabwe Bird—an iconic national symbol—printed across the shoulders.
Ivory Coast
One national team, however, stood head and shoulders above the rest: Ivory Coast. The Elephants arrived in Morocco wearing a striking custom look by Maison Elie Kuame, the luxury fashion house founded in 2006 that reinterprets African heritage through a modern, couture-informed lens. Designed exclusively for the Ivorian squad, the outfit is a true one-off, destined to be remembered as one of the most iconic looks in AFCON history. The centrepiece is an elegant coat adorned with a repeating geometric motif layered over tones of beige, ochre and white, echoing traditional textile patterns. The look is completed by a white shirt with gold buttons and flared trousers. Sophisticated, contemporary and unmistakably bold—an outfit that perfectly mirrors the elevated status of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
