No More Puma: Adidas to Return as AFCON Ball Maker After 12 Years
44 minutes ago, by Phan Tich Giay
- Adidas' Return as AFCON Ball Maker: Adidas is set to return as the official match ball supplier for the Africa Cup of Nations, replacing fellow German brand Puma.
- End of a 12-Year Hiatus: This marks Adidas' reunion with CAF after a 12-year absence, having last supplied the official AFCON match ball in 2015.
- Effective for 2027 Tournament: The change from Puma to Adidas is expected to take effect for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Adidas is set to make a major return as the official match ball supplier of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Footy Headlines can exclusively leak. The Three Stripes will replace fellow German brand Puma, which has supplied the tournament match balls for the past two editions.
Adidas to Return as AFCON Ball Maker After 12 Years
Adidas' upcoming reunion with CAF ends a 12-year absence from the continent's flagship international competition. The last time Adidas produced an official AFCON match ball was in 2015, when the 'Marhaba' ball was used during the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Prior to their departure, Adidas had been the long-standing technical partner of CAF, crafting iconic match balls including the 'Wawa Aba' for Ghana 2008, 'Jabulani Angola' in 2010, and 'Katlego' for South Africa 2013.
The switch is expected to take effect for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in mid-2027. This change marks the conclusion of Puma's recent tenure with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), during which they produced the 'Pokou' ball for the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast and the 'ITRI' for the 2025 edition in Morocco.
A 12-Year Hiatus for the Three Stripes
Following the 2015 edition, CAF partnered with a revolving door of manufacturers. Mitre supplied the tournament in 2017 with the Delta Hyperseam, before Umbro took over for 2019 (Neo Pro) and 2021 (Toghu). Puma then stepped in ahead of the 2023 tournament, bringing their own distinctive aesthetic before Adidas reclaimed the contract.
With Adidas returning to the tournament, the German sportswear giant further consolidates its dominant presence across major international football competitions, already supplying both the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. Official designs for the 2027 match ball are anticipated closer to the tournament's kickoff.
Are you pleased to see Adidas return as the official ball maker for AFCON? Let us know in the comments below.
Atalanta 26-27 Third Kit Released
Atalanta and New Balance have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Completing the Italian side's set alongside the previously launched home and away strips, the jersey introduces an elegant aesthetic rooted in the architectural heritage of Bergamo.
The New Balance Atalanta 26-27 third shirt is finished in a warm beige base officially dubbed 'Toasted Sesame', accented by black and 'Taffy Blue' trim on the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. Subtly woven across the body is a geometric jacquard pattern inspired by the famous sundial of Bergamo's Palazzo della Ragione. The chest prominently features Atalanta's retro 1964 crest, which depicts the running goddess alongside traditional black and blue stripes.
The New Balance branding appears in black, while Lete's red logo and SNAIFUN complete the front sponsorship. Inside the collar, a bespoke graphic highlights the Bergamo skyline accompanied by the motto 'LA MAGLIA SUDATA SEMPRE'. Crafted with breathable NB DRYx technology, the new kit is available now via the club's official channels.
Thailand Forced to Change Kits at 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup
According to Ball Stand Thailand, the Thailand national team and Warrix must modify their kits for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, as the current uniform violates FIFA regulations.
Laws 4 of the IFAB players' equipment prohibits any political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images on match shirt.
Thailand’s 2026–27 kits by Warrix feature an pattern of the national anthem lyrics. Although national anthem lyrics are not explicitly classified as prohibited text, incorporating a full sentence from the anthem or extracts with ideological undertones onto the kit is still considered a violation of slogan regulations.
Raphinha Becomes Brazil's New Number 10
Raphinha officially wore Brazil's iconic No. 10 shirt for the first time in a friendly against Australia, becoming the latest player to inherit the famous number following Neymar's departure from the national team after the 2026 World Cup.
The Barcelona forward is no stranger to the shirt, having already worn No. 10 several times during Brazil's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign when Neymar was unavailable.
Kelme Brisbane Roar 26-27 Home, Away, Third & Goalkeeper Kits Released - No More Cikers
Brisbane Roar and Spanish brand Kelme have officially launched the club's new kit collection for the 26-27 A-Leagues campaign. The drop represents the manufacturer's first full league set for the Queensland side after signing a three-year technical partnership earlier this year, succeeding previous supplier Cikers.
The 26-27 home kit marks a return to the club's traditional orange and black combination. The jersey features a textured orange base, black trim along the collar and cuffs, and is completed with black shorts and orange socks. The away jersey provides a crisp contrast with an off-white base accented by maroon detailing and shorts, celebrating Queensland's traditional sporting colour. Across the jerseys, the men's team features new primary partner Focus Construct on the front, while the women's shirts display Ausenco.
A major highlight of the release is the retro theme seen across the alternate designs. The vibrant blue third kit revives Brisbane Roar's original 2005 logo above an embossed lion graphic sweeping across the bottom front, accented with orange details. The retro crest also takes center stage on the maroon goalkeeper shirt, which features an elegant polo collar framed by orange piping.
Leicester City 26-27 Third Kit Released
Leicester City and Adidas have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 26-27 season. Arriving seven weeks into the campaign, the fresh strip introduces a distinct look that rounds off the Foxes' wardrobe for the year, joining the blue home and maroon away shirts.
The Adidas Leicester City 26-27 third jersey pairs an off-white base with green vertical pinstripes running down the front. The collar, sleeve cuffs, and signature Three Stripes on the shoulders are also finished in matching green. The standout element of the shirt is the club crest, which replaces the standard full-color badge with a minimalist green fox head emblem. The Adidas Performance logo sits opposite in matching green, while the men's version features BC.GAME and the women's team kit showcases King Power sponsorship.
White shorts and socks with green accents complete the full strip. The Leicester City 26-27 third kit is currently available for pre-order via the club's official online store, with deliveries scheduled to commence in October.
Purple Real Madrid 26-27 Originals Collection Leaked
A brand new lifestyle collection from Real Madrid and Adidas have been leaked via online stores, giving a full look onto its purple Originals tracksuit.
The design of the jacket is identical to away anthem jacket range from the German brand this season, featuring a white horizontal band with a yellow/orange trim. Both logos are displayed in monochrome white, match with the shoulder three-stripes. The full tracksuit is expected to be used as pre-match outfit or anthem jacket, depending the club's own intention.
What do you think of the new Real Madrid 26-27 Originals collection? Let us know in the comments below.
