AFCON Morocco 2025: “Itri”, the ball that celebrates Morocco’s ancestral heritage and lights up Africa
The official ball of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON Morocco 2025), “Itri”, recently unveiled by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is a celebration of Moroccan craftsmanship and ancestral heritage that will illuminate African football throughout the continental competition scheduled from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.
Named “Itri”, which means “star” in Amazigh, one of the components of Morocco’s plural identity, the ball blends tradition and modernity and embodies elegance through every detail of its design.
Largely inspired by the ancestral art of Moroccan Zellige, known for its refined and highly intricate geometric mosaics made of diverse shapes and colors, “Itri” offers a beautiful nod to Morocco’s cultural heritage, which has endured through time and remains anchored in the present. It also echoes the star on the national flag and the stellar patterns characteristic of traditional Moroccan Zellige.
The ball, which will make its debut during the opening match of the AFCON on December 21 between the Atlas Lions and Comoros, features a red and green palette that reflects the colors of the Moroccan flag.
The design highlights the traditional geometric patterns of Moroccan Zellige, characterized by a central star, floral shapes and circular symmetry that carry cultural meaning.
The star symbolizes ambition, light and the pursuit of excellence on the biggest stage of African football that will be held in Morocco, while the petals represent celebration and the festive spirit of this major African sporting event. The circular symmetry evokes the unity of the countries coming together to celebrate top-tier African sporting excellence.
The official ball of AFCON Morocco 2025 also features motifs called “Flow of Movement”, a visual and artistic illustration of the dynamism, rhythm and fluidity that define African football.
Uniting the Kingdom’s ancestral tradition with technological innovation, the “Itri” ball is both authentic and technologically advanced, reflecting Morocco’s heritage and cultural diversity.
It is based on the Orbita 6 technology of the globally renowned sports manufacturer Puma, used in several professional competitions such as the English Premier League, combining thermobonded panels and a textured surface to optimize precision, stability and lightness.
More than just a football, “Itri” is a window into Morocco’s rich and diverse past and a testament to its strong determination to confidently chart its path toward the future.
Editorial team/le7tv
