CAF has officially launched the Official CAF Interclub Puma Match Ball for the 2025/26 season, coinciding with the return of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup over the past weekend. The resumption followed the conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with Matchday 3 marking the halfway point of the group stages.
The new ball draws inspiration from the vibrant and intricate patterns of ankara fabric, celebrating African creativity, cultural diversity, and unity. Its design blends this heritage with the technical demands of elite football, reflecting CAF’s vision of combining tradition with modern performance. The ball is set to be used for all remaining fixtures of the 2025/26 season.
CAF emphasised the symbolic importance of the launch, as club football returned to the spotlight after weeks dominated by national team action. Bold geometric motifs on the ball represent the interconnectedness of clubs and communities, while symbolising movement, teamwork, and growth – values central to CAF interclub competitions.
Its colour palette combines earthy tones with highlights of gold, green, and red. Gold signifies prestige and excellence, green reflects growth and renewal, and red embodies the passion of African club football.
A textured surface enhances visibility on the pitch while echoing the tactile feel of traditional ankara fabric, marrying aesthetics with functionality.
Over the weekend, CAF Champions League record winners Al Ahly beat Young Africans in Cairo, while Mamelodi Sundowns faced Al Hilal Omdurman in Pretoria. Other high-profile fixtures saw clubs compete to strengthen their positions or reignite hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
CAF describes the new Puma match ball as a unifying symbol for African club football, combining heritage and innovation as the continent’s elite competitions enter a decisive phase of the season.
