Summary: Kit Chaos in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Feb 1, 2022, by John
With only four teams left in the tournament, we wanted to take a look back at all the strange situations regarding kits at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Late Kit Releases
We saw multiple nations release their AFCON jerseys just before the tournament started. Some, such as Guinea, never officially unveiled their shirts at all, but simply showcased them for the first time on matchday one.
Burkina Faso and the Gambia were similar, with Cameroon also doing this for their away kit, only revealing it during a group stage match.
Huge Numbers on Malawi's Kits
The numbers printed on Malawi's kits looked comically large. UEFA kit regulations for example would restrict the number sizes with much smaller measurements.
At least Malawi's player numbers were clearly legible for the referees, commentators and fans.
Two Different Kits in One Match
Sudan probably had the most odd of all the kit mishaps, in fact, their first match was utter chaos. The jersey they started the match with was not the same as the one they were wearing in the second half.
Sudan Back to Adidas
The before mentioned mishap was not the only occurrance that day, as Sudan actually had a deal with Solo Sports up until before AFCON 2021.
Before the tournament started, the Sudan national team social media team already Photoshopped out the Solo Sports logo from any images.
Sudan ended up with old Adidas teamwear, the red Tiro 17 shirt being the one that continued to be worn after the first match.
Comoros GK Wears Taped Number
The Comoros were faced with an absolutely dire situation in the round of 16, as all three of their goalkeepers missed the match due to injury or Covid.
Left-back Alhadhur had to jump in goal for them, however, the Comoros were unable to produce a GK shirt with the proper number.
Their last minute solution was to tape over the original number, which ended up getting them fined by CAF.
Kit Clash
This incident involved Senegal and Cape Verde, who for no good reason both decided to wear their dark outfits. It resulted in a severe lack of contrast between the two sides.
The interesting thing is, it could have easily been avoided, as both teams have white shirts, one of which should have been worn.
What do you think of these curious incidents involving kits at AFCON 2021? Are there any that we missed? Comment below.
Crawley Town 26-27 Home Kit Released
Erreà and Crawley Town have officially revealed the club's new home kit for the 26-27 season. Inspired by the team's Red Devils nickname, the primary red jersey features a dynamic subtle flame pattern across the body, complemented by contrasting white trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs. The inner collar is inscribed with the club's Latin motto Noli Cedere, while white Erreà branding and main sponsor uptime complete the look.
Southend United 26-27 Anniversary Kit Released
Italian brand Erreà and Southend United have revealed the club's special 26-27 anniversary kit, marking 120 years since the Blues were established in 1906. Presented in black with white collar details and trim, the standout feature of the shirt is a tonal front pattern formed by the names of every player to represent Southend United between 1906 and 2026.
Swansea City 26-27 Home Kit Released
Swansea City and Joma have officially launched the club's new home kit for the 26-27 Championship season. The new design reintroduces copper detailing to the home strip for the first time in over a decade, paying homage to the city's rich industrial heritage.
Built on a traditional white base, the jersey features elegant copper and black vertical pinstripes across the front. Copper trim extends to the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs, creating a stylish contrast alongside the black Joma logo and monochrome club crest.
The 26-27 home kit also debuts new front-of-shirt sponsor AG1, with ASI:One appearing on the sleeve. White shorts and white socks with matching copper trim complete the complete home kit.
Jagiellonia Białystok 26-27 Away & Third Kits Released
Polish Ekstraklasa club Jagiellonia Białystok and technical supplier Macron have officially launched the club's new away and third kits for the 26-27 season. Designed in collaboration with kit creator w_kitz, both jerseys celebrate local heritage and regional identity.
The Jagiellonia Białystok 26-27 away kit comes in an off-white colorway paired with deep burgundy trim. Drawing inspiration from the traditions of the historical Jagiellon dynasty, the jersey features a classic polo collar with button detailing, subtle tonal jacquard elements, and monochrome burgundy logos alongside the club crest.
Completing the lineup, the 26-27 third kit introduces a rich red and maroon palette highlighted by an intricate repeating mosaic pattern across the front and sleeves. This ornamental design pays tribute to the regional culture of Podlasie. White branding and trim provide clear contrast against the patterned base, giving the kit a distinctive look on the pitch.
Grenoble Foot 38 26-27 Home Kit Released
French Ligue 2 club Grenoble Foot 38 and Nike have officially revealed the club's new home jersey for the 26-27 season.
The Nike GF38 26-27 home shirt features a half-and-half design split between bright royal blue and dark navy. The split extends across the front and alternating sleeves, while a subtle tonal chevron graphic runs across the front body. Clean white details feature on the V-neck collar, sleeve cuffs, Nike Swoosh, and Carrefour front shirt logo.
Adding a touch of local identity, the quarterly coat of arms of the historical Dauphiné region is placed on the upper back just below the collar. The new kit is now available through the club's official boutique.
Atlético Madrid Launch Special Over the Pitch Nameset
Atlético Madrid have teamed up with South Korean football culture studio Over the Pitch to reveal a special custom nameset collaboration. Building on their established partnership through the Atleti Creators Club, the new release introduces custom typography and back-of-shirt graphics rooted in traditional Korean heritage.
The standout element of the design is a detailed Korean tiger illustration cascading down the center of the shirt number. Accompanying the numbers, the player names feature artistic Korean-style lettering.
The special font is showcased on both Atlético's 26-27 red-and-white home kit and dark away shirt in a photoshoot set within a traditional Korean interior.
