{"id":188125,"date":"2025-12-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/?p=188125"},"modified":"2026-03-23T15:56:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:56:22","slug":"bare-arms-and-bold-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/sports\/bare-arms-and-bold-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"AFCON-Geschichte: Nackte Arme und k\u00fchne Ideen"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- post header -->\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumn\">\n    <div class=\"col breadcrumb\">\n        <a href=\"\/de\/\">Startseite<\/a>\/\n        <a href=\"\/de\/category\/sports\/\">Sport<\/a>\/\n        AFCON-Geschichte: Nackte Arme und k\u00fchne Ideen\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row rowPostHeaderImage headerImageAnim\">\n    <div class=\"scrollAnim\" \n        id=\"postHeaderImage\"\n         style=\"width:100%;position:relative;overflow:hidden;        aspect-ratio:2        ;\" >\n    <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\"\n        class=\"\"\n        src=\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON.jpg\" style=\"transition: 0.35s all;height:100%;width:100%;        object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\"\/>\n        <\/div>\n    \n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide rowPostHeader\">\n    <div id=\"postHeaderText\" class=\"col tcenter\" >\n        <div class=\"cat\"><a class=\"secondary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/category\/sports\/\">Sport<\/a><\/div>\n        <div id=\"headerSocialIcons\" class=\"headerSocialIcons tleft\">\n            <a class=\"facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.puma-catchup.com%2Fde%2Fsports%2Fbare-arms-and-bold-ideas%2F\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n            <a class=\"linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.puma-catchup.com%2Fde%2Fsports%2Fbare-arms-and-bold-ideas%2F\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n            <a class=\"x\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/sports\/bare-arms-and-bold-ideas\/&#038;text=\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n            <a class=\"pinterest\" href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.puma-catchup.com%2Fde%2Fsports%2Fbare-arms-and-bold-ideas%2F\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <h1 class=\"\" >Nackte Arme und k\u00fchne Ideen<\/h1>\n        <div class=\"articleintro\" >PUMAs drei Jahrzehnte w\u00e4hrende Wette auf Afrika \u2013 die sich ausgezahlt hat!<\/div>\n        <div class=\"date\">19. Dezember 2025 <\/div>\n\n        <div id=\"\" class=\"headerSocialIconsMobile tcenter mobile\">\n            <a class=\"sharing\" id=\"mobileshare\" onclick='navigator.share({ \"title\": &quot;AFCON History: Bare Arms And Bold Ideas&quot;, \"text\": &quot;A sleeveless shirt. A FIFA ban. A continent on the rise. This is the true story of how PUMA\\u2019s refusal to rein in creativity, and its deep bond with African football, turned controversy into credibility over three bold decades.&quot;, \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/sports\/bare-arms-and-bold-ideas\/\" })'  target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n            <a class=\"facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/sports\/bare-arms-and-bold-ideas\/\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n            <a class=\"linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/sports\/bare-arms-and-bold-ideas\/\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n            <a class=\"x\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.puma-catchup.com%2Fde%2Fsports%2Fbare-arms-and-bold-ideas%2F&#038;text=\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n            <a class=\"pinterest\" href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.puma-catchup.com%2Fde%2Fsports%2Fbare-arms-and-bold-ideas%2F\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_intro\" >Nur wenige Wochen vor Beginn der Weltmeisterschaft 2002 wartete der frisch gek\u00fcrte AFCON-Meister Kamerun, der bereits bei der Weltmeisterschaft 1998 in PUMA-Trikots gespielt hatte, gespannt darauf, auf der Weltb\u00fchne zu gl\u00e4nzen.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default firstLetter\" >Doch dann kam es pl\u00f6tzlich und unerwartet. Die FIFA erkl\u00e4rte, dass genau das von PUMA entworfene Trikot, mit dem die Fans w\u00e4hrend der AFCON im Januar und Februar 2002 begeistert waren, nicht zugelassen sei. F\u00fcr die FIFA war das Design von PUMA einfach inakzeptabel, und ihre Reaktion war schnell und entschlossen.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row image multi 1 -->\n<div class=\"row rowImages2 spacing\">\n\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.66666666666667  ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2019_Puma_Archive_Apparel_3_new-4.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.66666666666667  ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2019_Puma_Archive_Apparel_3_007.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0  ; background-image: url(''); background-size: cover;background-position: 0% 0%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default\" >F\u00fcr Johann Adamsson, damals Leiter Sportmarketing und Sportlizenzen bei PUMA, war die Entscheidung der FIFA ein gro\u00dfer Schock. \u201cWir wussten, dass unser \u00e4rmelloses gr\u00fcnes Trikot gewagt war \u2013 ich meine, zum ersten Mal in der Geschichte des Fu\u00dfballs waren die Arme nackt und die Schultern v\u00f6llig unbedeckt.\u201d Aber zu diesem Zeitpunkt gab es tats\u00e4chlich keine Regel, die dies verbot.<br><br>Die Marke war in einen heftigen und \u00f6ffentlichen Rechtsstreit mit der m\u00e4chtigsten Institution des Fu\u00dfballs verwickelt.\u00a0<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row cols image text -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowTwoColumnsNarrow spacing articleText\">\n    <div class=\"col\">\n            <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\" aspect-ratio: 1.4996395097332  ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JOHAN-Adamson_credits-PUMA-Christoph-MAdere.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"col\">\n            <div class=\"quote\" >\u201cWir waren \u00e4u\u00dferst \u00fcberrascht\u201d, sagt Adamsson. \u201cWir hatten das Gef\u00fchl, dass die FIFA v\u00f6llig verkannt hatte, was wir eigentlich vorhatten.\u201d<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default\" >Was PUMA getan hatte, war, eine neue Denkweise in den Fu\u00dfball einzuf\u00fchren. Bis dahin hatten sich Fu\u00dfballer einfach wie Fu\u00dfballer gekleidet. PUMA stellte diese Norm in Frage und stellte eine unbequeme Frage: Warum sollten sich Fu\u00dfballer nicht auch wie Sportler kleiden?<br><br>PUMA zeigte sich widerstandsf\u00e4hig. Nach einer genauen Pr\u00fcfung der FIFA-Vorschriften erkannte die Marke, dass sie noch Handlungsspielraum hatte. Die L\u00f6sung bestand darin, die urspr\u00fcngliche Form des Trikots beizubehalten und lediglich einen leichten schwarzen \u00c4rmel aus Mesh hinzuzuf\u00fcgen. Es war eine bemerkenswerte Wende, an die man sich noch heute erinnert.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row image single -->\n<div class=\"rowImageSingle spacing\">\n\t<div>\n\t<div class=\"siAsp620 scrollAnim\" \n\t    \n\t     style=\"full;position:relative;overflow:hidden;\t;\" >\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\"\n\t    class=\"\"\n\t    src=\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ghana_2025-12-16-113721.jpg\" style=\"transition: 0.35s all;height:100%;width:100%;\t    object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\"\/>\n\t    <\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default\" ><h2>Ein Kontinent, der den Wandel begr\u00fc\u00dfte<\/h2>Die Designer von PUMA wollten Geschwindigkeit, Anpassungsf\u00e4higkeit und ihren unb\u00e4ndigen Tatendrang und ihre Leidenschaft f\u00fcr kreatives Denken in ihre Entw\u00fcrfe einflie\u00dfen lassen. Und Afrika bot daf\u00fcr das ideale Umfeld, damit all dies gedeihen konnte.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row cols image text -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowTwoColumnsNarrow spacing articleText\">\n    <div class=\"col\">\n            <div class=\"\" >\u201cIch bin fest davon \u00fcberzeugt, dass genau das zum Erfolg beigetragen hat\u201d, erkl\u00e4rt Adamsson. \u201cDie gesamte Stimmung rund um den afrikanischen Fu\u00dfball war damals von einer unglaublichen Begeisterung gepr\u00e4gt. Der afrikanische Fu\u00dfball war dynamisch, fr\u00f6hlich, emotional und selbstbewusst. All das passte hervorragend zu dem, wof\u00fcr wir als Sportmarke PUMA standen \u2013 es spiegelte die Identit\u00e4t von PUMA wider.\u201d<br><br>F\u00fcr Adamsson war es jedoch die Offenheit Afrikas, die ebenso wichtig war wie seine \u00e4sthetische Kraft.\u00a0<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"col\">\n            <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\" aspect-ratio: 1  ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_ECOM_TS_AFCON_Tounament_Ball_5562.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row cols image text -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowTwoColumnsNarrow spacing articleText\">\n    <div class=\"col\">\n            <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\" aspect-ratio: 1  ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_Ecom_TS_AFCON_CAF_Trophy_Jersey_Tournament_Ball_3395.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"col\">\n            <div class=\"\" >\u201cDie Zusammenarbeit mit den afrikanischen Verb\u00e4nden war f\u00fcr uns sehr angenehm, da Ver\u00e4nderungen und Innovationen wirklich gef\u00f6rdert wurden. Die Menschen waren begeistert von neuen Ideen, und wir wiederum sch\u00e4tzten diese Eigenschaft an ihnen sehr.\u201c<br>Es war eine Kultur der schnellen Entscheidungsfindung, in der die Genehmigungswege kurz waren.<br><br>Mit einem stetig wachsenden Vertrauen in seine kreative Freiheit baute PUMA in den 2000er und fr\u00fchen 2010er Jahren seine Partnerschaften in Afrika weiter aus.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default\" ><h2>Ghana: Vom Durchbruch zum Glauben<br><\/h2>Eine der erfolgreichsten Partnerschaften war die mit Ghana, f\u00fcr das PUMA bei drei aufeinanderfolgenden Weltmeisterschaften die Trikots lieferte. Dazu z\u00e4hlen 2006 in Deutschland, 2010 in S\u00fcdafrika und 2014 in Brasilien.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row cols image text -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowTwoColumnsNarrow spacing articleText\">\n    <div class=\"col\">\n            <div class=\"\" >Es war die st\u00e4rkste Phase in der modernen internationalen Geschichte Ghanas, in der die Nation vom Fu\u00dfball begeistert war. Ghana stieg schnell auf \u2013 qualifizierte sich 2006 zum ersten Mal f\u00fcr die Weltmeisterschaft, erreichte die K.o.-Runde und wurde in der Gruppenphase Zweiter hinter Italien. Im Jahr 2010 schaffte es das Land erneut, sich hinter Deutschland aus der Gruppenphase zu qualifizieren, bevor es 2014 ein dramatisches 2:2-Unentschieden gegen Deutschland erzielte. Ghana war nun kein kleiner Spieler mehr, sondern zu einem ernstzunehmenden Konkurrenten geworden.<br><br>\u00c4gypten war ein ganz anderer, aber ebenso wichtiger Teil des Engagements von PUMA in Afrika. \u00c4gypten war nicht wegen seiner Erfolge bei Weltmeisterschaften von Bedeutung, sondern weil es den afrikanischen Fu\u00dfball dominierte und 2006, 2008 und 2010 dreimal in Folge den Afrika-Cup gewann.<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"col\">\n            <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\" aspect-ratio: 0.77265973254086  ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ghana_35763.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default\" >Dieser Erfolg festigte die Verbindung von PUMA mit dem erfolgreichen Fu\u00dfball in Afrikas wichtigstem Wettbewerb.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default\" ><h2>Marokko: Ein neuer Ma\u00dfstab f\u00fcr Afrika<\/h2>Ein weiterer wichtiger Moment kam mit Marokko, als es 2022 mit seinen Spielern, die alle in PUMA-Trikots gekleidet waren, als erste afrikanische Mannschaft \u00fcberhaupt das Halbfinale einer Weltmeisterschaft erreichte.<br>Es war ein unglaubliches Ereignis f\u00fcr das Land, denn die Mannschaft schaffte es sogar, die etablierten Teams aus Belgien, Spanien und Portugal aus dem Turnier zu werfen.<br><br>Aber auch f\u00fcr PUMA war dieses Ereignis von gro\u00dfer Bedeutung, da es eine enorme weltweite Sichtbarkeit mit sich brachte und die Wahrnehmung afrikanischer Teams v\u00f6llig ver\u00e4nderte.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row image multi 1 -->\n<div class=\"row rowImages3 spacing\">\n\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1 ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2022_Morocco-Away.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1 ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Morocco-WC-22-1.2.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"bgimage\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1 ; background-image: url('https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Morocco-WC-22-1.4.jpg'); background-size: cover;background-position: 50% 50%;width:100%\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default\" >Marokko wurde nicht nur als unerwarteter Gl\u00fccksfall angesehen, sondern zeigte eine kontrollierte, beeindruckend organisierte und \u00e4u\u00dferst professionelle Leistung.<br><br>PUMA hatte es geschafft. Das Unternehmen hatte durchgehalten und drei Jahrzehnte lang in den afrikanischen Fu\u00dfball investiert. Von Kameruns Trotz \u00fcber Ghanas Best\u00e4ndigkeit und \u00c4gyptens Dominanz bis hin zu Marokkos Durchbruch wurde die Beziehung zwischen PUMA und Afrika langsam, aber sicher durch harte Arbeit, Engagement und Risikobereitschaft aufgebaut.<br><br>Heute ist die Partnerschaft zwischen PUMA und dem afrikanischen Fu\u00dfball so stark wie nie zuvor, was vielleicht am deutlichsten bei der bevorstehenden AFCON zu sehen sein wird. Mit 24 Mannschaften, sechs Austragungsorten und fast einem Monat Fu\u00dfball ist die AFCON das gr\u00f6\u00dfte Schaufenster der CAF.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_default\" ><h2>AFCON 2025: PUMA und der afrikanische Fu\u00dfball \u2013 die Reise geht weiter<\/h2>PUMA ist offizieller Ausr\u00fcster und Lieferant der Spielb\u00e4lle f\u00fcr die TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Marokko 2025. Gastgeberland ist in diesem Jahr Marokko, das erneut stolz PUMA-Ausr\u00fcstung tragen wird, ebenso wie \u00c4gypten, die erfolgreichste Nation in der Geschichte der AFCON. Auch Senegal, eine der derzeit st\u00e4rksten Mannschaften des Kontinents, ist ein weiteres Team, das sich PUMA verschrieben hat.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row image single -->\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t<div class=\"0 scrollAnim\" \n\t    \n\t     style=\"Wide;position:relative;overflow:hidden;\t;\" >\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\"\n\t    class=\"\"\n\t    src=\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_Ecom_TS_AFCON_CAF_Trophy_Jersey_Tournament_Ball.jpg\" style=\"transition: 0.35s all;height:100%;width:100%;\t    object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\"\/>\n\t    <\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<!-- row text single -->\n<div class=\"gradientnone\">\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumnWide spacing\">\n    <div class=\"col articleText\">\n        <div class=\"textStyle_intro\" >Wenn also am 21. Dezember die TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Marokko 2025 beginnt, wird PUMA sicherlich nicht im Hintergrund bleiben. Nein \u2013 es wird im Mittelpunkt stehen \u2013 bei den Gastgebern, bei den Schwergewichten und \u00fcberall bei einem der gr\u00f6\u00dften Fu\u00dfballwettbewerbe des Kontinents, in den es sich verliebt hat.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ein \u00e4rmelloses Trikot. Eine FIFA-Sperre. Ein Kontinent im Aufschwung. Dies ist die wahre Geschichte dar\u00fcber, wie PUMAs Weigerung, Kreativit\u00e4t einzuschr\u00e4nken, und seine tiefe Verbundenheit mit dem afrikanischen Fu\u00dfball in drei mutigen Jahrzehnten Kontroversen in Glaubw\u00fcrdigkeit verwandelten.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":188134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"is_top_article":true,"is_featured_article":true,"EasyPostViewCounter":3044,"meta-headline":"Bare Arms And Bold Ideas","footnotes":""},"categories":[1091,18],"class_list":["post-188125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-legacy","category-sports"],"fullData":{"ID":188125,"post_author":"3","post_date":"2025-12-19 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-12-19 06:00:00","post_content":"<!-- wp:puma\/row-post-header {\"image\":{\"id\":188134,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON.jpg\"},\"headline\":\"Bare Arms And Bold Ideas\",\"content\":\"PUMA\\u0026rsquo;s Three-Decade Bet On Africa - Which Paid Off!\",\"className\":\"\",\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"With the World Cup just weeks away in 2002, freshly crowned AFCON Champions Cameroon, who had already played in PUMA jerseys at the World Cup in 1998, were eagerly awaiting their turn to shine on a global stage.\",\"style\":\"intro\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"But then it came. Sudden and unexpected. The FIFA said the very same PUMA-designed kit which they had wowed fans with during the January-February AFCON of 2002, was not allowed. For FIFA, PUMA\\u0026rsquo;s design was simply unacceptable, and its backlash was swift and robust.\",\"firstletter\":\"firstLetter\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-image-multi {\"images\":[{\"id\":188142},{\"id\":188129},{\"id\":\"placeholder\"}],\"className\":\"\",\"style\":\"2\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"headlines\":[],\"captions\":[],\"showCaptions\":[],\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"For Johann Adamsson, then Head of Sports Marketing and Sports Licensing at PUMA, FIFA\\u0026rsquo;s decision was a massive shock. \\u0026ldquo;We knew that our sleeveless green shirt was daring \\u0026ndash; I mean, for the first time in football history, it means the arms were bare, and the shoulders totally exposed.\\u0026rdquo; But there was actually nothing written in the rules at the time which said that this was not allowed.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;The brand was locked in a fierce and public regulatory battle with football\\u0026rsquo;s most powerful institution.\\u0026nbsp;\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-cols-image-text {\"content\":\"\\u0026ldquo;We were extremely taken aback,\\u0026rdquo; Adamsson says. \\u0026ldquo;We felt FIFA had completely missed what we were trying to do.\\u0026rdquo;\",\"image\":{\"id\":188135,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JOHAN-Adamson_credits-PUMA-Christoph-MAdere.jpg\"},\"order\":\"2\",\"style\":\"quote\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Narrow\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"What PUMA had done was introduce a new way of thinking into football. Until then, footballers had simply dressed as footballers. PUMA challenged this norm, asking an uncomfortable question: why shouldn\\u0026rsquo;t footballers also dress like athletes?\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;PUMA showed resilience. After examining FIFA\\u0026rsquo;s regulations line by line, the brand realised it still had space to act. The solution kept the shirt\\u0026rsquo;s original form, adding only a lightweight black mesh sleeve. It was a remarkable turnaround - that is still remembered today.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-image-single {\"image\":{\"id\":188132,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ghana_2025-12-16-113721.jpg\"},\"aspect\":\"siAsp620\",\"style\":\"full\",\"className\":\"\",\"spacing\":true,\"headline\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"\\u0026lt;h2\\u0026gt;A Continent That Welcomed Change\\u0026lt;\/h2\\u0026gt;PUMA\\u0026#039;s designers were looking to introduce speed, adaptability and their bounding drive and passion for creative thinking into their designs. And here Africa provided the ideal environment for all of this to flourish.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-cols-image-text {\"content\":\"\\u0026ldquo;I really do believe this is what helped make it all work so well,\\u0026rdquo; Adamsson explains. \\u0026ldquo;The whole feeling around African football at the time was a really powerful sense of excitement. African football was vibrant, joyful, emotional, confident. All this was brilliantly aligned with what we as PUMA stood for as a sports brand \\u0026ndash; it mirrored PUMA\\u0026acute;s identity.\\u0026rdquo;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;But for Adamsson, it was Africa\\u0026rsquo;s openness which was just as much as its aesthetic power.\\u0026nbsp;\",\"image\":{\"id\":188128,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_ECOM_TS_AFCON_Tounament_Ball_5562.jpg\"},\"className\":\"\",\"order\":\"1\",\"width\":\"Narrow\",\"style\":\"\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-cols-image-text {\"content\":\"\\u0026ldquo;We found the African federations easy to work with, because change and innovation was really encouraged. People just loved new ideas and we in turn loved this about them.\\u0026ldquo;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;It was a culture of fast decision-making, where approval chains were short.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;With an ever-growing confidence in its freedom to be creative, PUMA went on to expand its range of African partnerships throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.\",\"image\":{\"id\":188126,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_Ecom_TS_AFCON_CAF_Trophy_Jersey_Tournament_Ball_3395.jpg\"},\"order\":\"2\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Narrow\",\"style\":\"\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"\\u0026lt;h2\\u0026gt;Ghana: From Breakthrough to Belief\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;\/h2\\u0026gt;Here one of the most successful relationships was with Ghana, with PUMA supplying kits at three consecutive World Cups. This includes 2006 in Germany, 2010 in South Africa and 2014 in Brazil.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-cols-image-text {\"content\":\"It was the strongest period in Ghana\\u0026rsquo;s modern international history, with the nation on fire for football. Ghana rose rapidly \\u0026ndash; qualifying for its first World Cup in 2006, reaching the knockouts and finishing second behind Italy in the group stage. In 2010, it again progressed from the group stage behind Germany, before earning a dramatic 2\\u0026ndash;2 draw against them in 2014. No longer a small player, Ghana had become a formidable contender in its own right.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;Egypt was a very different, but equally significant part of PUMA\\u0026rsquo;s African involvement. Rather than World Cup success, Egypt mattered because it dominated African football, winning the Africa Cup of Nations three times in a row in 2006, 2008 and 2010.\",\"image\":{\"id\":188133,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ghana_35763.jpg\"},\"className\":\"\",\"order\":\"1\",\"width\":\"Narrow\",\"style\":\"\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"That achievement cemented PUMA\\u0026rsquo;s association with winning football in Africa\\u0026rsquo;s most important competition.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"\\u0026lt;h2\\u0026gt;Morocco: A New African Benchmark\\u0026lt;\/h2\\u0026gt;Another key moment came with Morocco, when in 2022, with its players all dressed in a PUMA kit, became the first African team ever to reach a World Cup semi-final.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;It proved an incredible event for the country, as the team managed to even knock out the established teams of Belgium, Spain and Portugal.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;But the event was also monumental for PUMA, as it delivered an enormous global visibility, totally reshaping how African teams were perceived.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-image-multi {\"style\":\"3\",\"aspect\":\"1\",\"images\":[{\"id\":188131},{\"id\":188136},{\"id\":188137}],\"className\":\"\",\"headlines\":[],\"captions\":[],\"showCaptions\":[],\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"Morocco was not just seen as enjoying an unexpected run of luck, but put in a controlled, impressive organised and highly professional performance.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;PUMA had done it. It had stayed for the long haul, standing its ground for three decades investing into African football. From Cameroon\\u0026rsquo;s defiance, through Ghana\\u0026rsquo;s consistency and Egypt\\u0026rsquo;s dominance, to Morocco\\u0026rsquo;s breakthrough, the PUMA \/ Africa relationship was built slowly but surely, through hard-work, commitment and risk-taking.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;Today the partnership between PUMA and African football is as strong as ever, perhaps most evident in the upcoming AFCON. With 24 teams, six host cities and nearly a month of football, AFCON is CAF\\u0026rsquo;s biggest shop window.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"\\u0026lt;h2\\u0026gt;AFCON 2025: PUMA and African Football, Continuing the Journey\\u0026lt;\/h2\\u0026gt;PUMA is the official technical supplier and match ball provider of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025. This year\\u0026#039;s host nation is Morocco, which will once again be proudly wearing PUMA, as will the most successful AFCON nation in history, Egypt. Meanwhile Senegal, one of the continent\\u0026rsquo;s strongest modern sides, are another dedicated PUMA team.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-image-single {\"image\":{\"id\":188127,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_Ecom_TS_AFCON_CAF_Trophy_Jersey_Tournament_Ball.jpg\"},\"className\":\"\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"spacing\":true,\"style\":\"Wide\",\"headline\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"So when TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 starts on 21 December, PUMA certainly won\\u0026rsquo;t be lurking in the background. No - it will be front and centre - on the hosts, on heavyweights, and all over one the biggest football competition of the continent which it fell in love with.\",\"style\":\"intro\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->","post_title":"AFCON History: Bare Arms And Bold Ideas","post_excerpt":"A sleeveless shirt. A FIFA ban. A continent on the rise. This is the true story of how PUMA\u2019s refusal to rein in creativity, and its deep bond with African football, turned controversy into credibility over three bold decades.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"bare-arms-and-bold-ideas","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-03-23 15:56:22","post_modified_gmt":"2026-03-23 14:56:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/?p=188125","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw","ancestors":[],"page_template":"","post_category":[1091,18],"tags_input":[],"id":188125,"author":"3","date":"2025-12-19 07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19 06:00:00","content":"<!-- wp:puma\/row-post-header {\"image\":{\"id\":188134,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON.jpg\"},\"headline\":\"Bare Arms And Bold Ideas\",\"content\":\"PUMA\\u0026rsquo;s Three-Decade Bet On Africa - Which Paid Off!\",\"className\":\"\",\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"With the World Cup just weeks away in 2002, freshly crowned AFCON Champions Cameroon, who had already played in PUMA jerseys at the World Cup in 1998, were eagerly awaiting their turn to shine on a global stage.\",\"style\":\"intro\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"But then it came. Sudden and unexpected. The FIFA said the very same PUMA-designed kit which they had wowed fans with during the January-February AFCON of 2002, was not allowed. For FIFA, PUMA\\u0026rsquo;s design was simply unacceptable, and its backlash was swift and robust.\",\"firstletter\":\"firstLetter\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-image-multi {\"images\":[{\"id\":188142},{\"id\":188129},{\"id\":\"placeholder\"}],\"className\":\"\",\"style\":\"2\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"headlines\":[],\"captions\":[],\"showCaptions\":[],\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"For Johann Adamsson, then Head of Sports Marketing and Sports Licensing at PUMA, FIFA\\u0026rsquo;s decision was a massive shock. \\u0026ldquo;We knew that our sleeveless green shirt was daring \\u0026ndash; I mean, for the first time in football history, it means the arms were bare, and the shoulders totally exposed.\\u0026rdquo; But there was actually nothing written in the rules at the time which said that this was not allowed.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;The brand was locked in a fierce and public regulatory battle with football\\u0026rsquo;s most powerful institution.\\u0026nbsp;\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-cols-image-text {\"content\":\"\\u0026ldquo;We were extremely taken aback,\\u0026rdquo; Adamsson says. \\u0026ldquo;We felt FIFA had completely missed what we were trying to do.\\u0026rdquo;\",\"image\":{\"id\":188135,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JOHAN-Adamson_credits-PUMA-Christoph-MAdere.jpg\"},\"order\":\"2\",\"style\":\"quote\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Narrow\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"What PUMA had done was introduce a new way of thinking into football. Until then, footballers had simply dressed as footballers. PUMA challenged this norm, asking an uncomfortable question: why shouldn\\u0026rsquo;t footballers also dress like athletes?\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;PUMA showed resilience. After examining FIFA\\u0026rsquo;s regulations line by line, the brand realised it still had space to act. The solution kept the shirt\\u0026rsquo;s original form, adding only a lightweight black mesh sleeve. It was a remarkable turnaround - that is still remembered today.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-image-single {\"image\":{\"id\":188132,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ghana_2025-12-16-113721.jpg\"},\"aspect\":\"siAsp620\",\"style\":\"full\",\"className\":\"\",\"spacing\":true,\"headline\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"\\u0026lt;h2\\u0026gt;A Continent That Welcomed Change\\u0026lt;\/h2\\u0026gt;PUMA\\u0026#039;s designers were looking to introduce speed, adaptability and their bounding drive and passion for creative thinking into their designs. And here Africa provided the ideal environment for all of this to flourish.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-cols-image-text {\"content\":\"\\u0026ldquo;I really do believe this is what helped make it all work so well,\\u0026rdquo; Adamsson explains. \\u0026ldquo;The whole feeling around African football at the time was a really powerful sense of excitement. African football was vibrant, joyful, emotional, confident. All this was brilliantly aligned with what we as PUMA stood for as a sports brand \\u0026ndash; it mirrored PUMA\\u0026acute;s identity.\\u0026rdquo;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;But for Adamsson, it was Africa\\u0026rsquo;s openness which was just as much as its aesthetic power.\\u0026nbsp;\",\"image\":{\"id\":188128,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_ECOM_TS_AFCON_Tounament_Ball_5562.jpg\"},\"className\":\"\",\"order\":\"1\",\"width\":\"Narrow\",\"style\":\"\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-cols-image-text {\"content\":\"\\u0026ldquo;We found the African federations easy to work with, because change and innovation was really encouraged. People just loved new ideas and we in turn loved this about them.\\u0026ldquo;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;It was a culture of fast decision-making, where approval chains were short.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;With an ever-growing confidence in its freedom to be creative, PUMA went on to expand its range of African partnerships throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.\",\"image\":{\"id\":188126,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_Ecom_TS_AFCON_CAF_Trophy_Jersey_Tournament_Ball_3395.jpg\"},\"order\":\"2\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Narrow\",\"style\":\"\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"\\u0026lt;h2\\u0026gt;Ghana: From Breakthrough to Belief\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;\/h2\\u0026gt;Here one of the most successful relationships was with Ghana, with PUMA supplying kits at three consecutive World Cups. This includes 2006 in Germany, 2010 in South Africa and 2014 in Brazil.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-cols-image-text {\"content\":\"It was the strongest period in Ghana\\u0026rsquo;s modern international history, with the nation on fire for football. Ghana rose rapidly \\u0026ndash; qualifying for its first World Cup in 2006, reaching the knockouts and finishing second behind Italy in the group stage. In 2010, it again progressed from the group stage behind Germany, before earning a dramatic 2\\u0026ndash;2 draw against them in 2014. No longer a small player, Ghana had become a formidable contender in its own right.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;Egypt was a very different, but equally significant part of PUMA\\u0026rsquo;s African involvement. Rather than World Cup success, Egypt mattered because it dominated African football, winning the Africa Cup of Nations three times in a row in 2006, 2008 and 2010.\",\"image\":{\"id\":188133,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ghana_35763.jpg\"},\"className\":\"\",\"order\":\"1\",\"width\":\"Narrow\",\"style\":\"\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"That achievement cemented PUMA\\u0026rsquo;s association with winning football in Africa\\u0026rsquo;s most important competition.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"\\u0026lt;h2\\u0026gt;Morocco: A New African Benchmark\\u0026lt;\/h2\\u0026gt;Another key moment came with Morocco, when in 2022, with its players all dressed in a PUMA kit, became the first African team ever to reach a World Cup semi-final.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;It proved an incredible event for the country, as the team managed to even knock out the established teams of Belgium, Spain and Portugal.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;But the event was also monumental for PUMA, as it delivered an enormous global visibility, totally reshaping how African teams were perceived.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-image-multi {\"style\":\"3\",\"aspect\":\"1\",\"images\":[{\"id\":188131},{\"id\":188136},{\"id\":188137}],\"className\":\"\",\"headlines\":[],\"captions\":[],\"showCaptions\":[],\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"Morocco was not just seen as enjoying an unexpected run of luck, but put in a controlled, impressive organised and highly professional performance.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;PUMA had done it. It had stayed for the long haul, standing its ground for three decades investing into African football. From Cameroon\\u0026rsquo;s defiance, through Ghana\\u0026rsquo;s consistency and Egypt\\u0026rsquo;s dominance, to Morocco\\u0026rsquo;s breakthrough, the PUMA \/ Africa relationship was built slowly but surely, through hard-work, commitment and risk-taking.\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;br\\u0026gt;Today the partnership between PUMA and African football is as strong as ever, perhaps most evident in the upcoming AFCON. With 24 teams, six host cities and nearly a month of football, AFCON is CAF\\u0026rsquo;s biggest shop window.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"\\u0026lt;h2\\u0026gt;AFCON 2025: PUMA and African Football, Continuing the Journey\\u0026lt;\/h2\\u0026gt;PUMA is the official technical supplier and match ball provider of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025. This year\\u0026#039;s host nation is Morocco, which will once again be proudly wearing PUMA, as will the most successful AFCON nation in history, Egypt. Meanwhile Senegal, one of the continent\\u0026rsquo;s strongest modern sides, are another dedicated PUMA team.\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"style\":\"default\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-image-single {\"image\":{\"id\":188127,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/25AW_Ecom_TS_AFCON_CAF_Trophy_Jersey_Tournament_Ball.jpg\"},\"className\":\"\",\"aspect\":\"0\",\"spacing\":true,\"style\":\"Wide\",\"headline\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"showCaption\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:puma\/row-text-single {\"content\":\"So when TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 starts on 21 December, PUMA certainly won\\u0026rsquo;t be lurking in the background. No - it will be front and centre - on the hosts, on heavyweights, and all over one the biggest football competition of the continent which it fell in love with.\",\"style\":\"intro\",\"className\":\"\",\"width\":\"Wide\",\"firstletter\":\"\",\"gradient\":\"none\",\"spacing\":true,\"previewImage\":\"\",\"lock\":\"\",\"metadata\":\"\",\"TrpContentRestriction\":{\"restriction_type\":\"exclude\",\"selected_languages\":[],\"panel_open\":true}} \/-->","title":"AFCON-Geschichte: Nackte Arme und k\u00fchne Ideen","excerpt":"Ein \u00e4rmelloses Trikot. Eine FIFA-Sperre. Ein Kontinent im Aufschwung. Dies ist die wahre Geschichte dar\u00fcber, wie PUMAs Weigerung, Kreativit\u00e4t einzuschr\u00e4nken, und seine tiefe Verbundenheit mit dem afrikanischen Fu\u00dfball in drei mutigen Jahrzehnten Kontroversen in Glaubw\u00fcrdigkeit verwandelten.","status":"publish","password":"","name":"nackte Arme und k\u00fchne Ideen","modified":"2026-03-23 15:56:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23 14:56:22","content_filtered":"","parent":0,"type":"post","mime_type":"","template":"","category":[1091,18],"datetime_local":"19. Dezember 2025 um 06:00","date_local":"19. Dezember 2025","time_local":"06:00","slug":"bare-arms-and-bold-ideas","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/sports\/bare-arms-and-bold-ideas\/","featured_image":{"width":1884,"height":1060,"file":"2025\/12\/Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON.jpg","filesize":1593342,"sizes":{"medium":{"file":"Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON-300x169.jpg","width":300,"height":169,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":13975},"large":{"file":"Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON-1024x576.jpg","width":1024,"height":576,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":69450},"thumbnail":{"file":"Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":10056},"medium_large":{"file":"Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON-768x432.jpg","width":768,"height":432,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":44916},"1536x1536":{"file":"Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON-1536x864.jpg","width":1536,"height":864,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":135518},"trp-custom-language-flag":{"file":"Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON-18x10.jpg","width":18,"height":10,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","filesize":4591}},"image_meta":{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1","keywords":[]},"id":188134,"alt":"","caption":"","description":"","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Hero_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON.jpg","title":"Held_25AW_SM_TS_Afrikanischer Nationen-Pokal","aspect_ratio":1.7773584905660378,"focalPointLeft":0.5,"focalPointTop":0.5},"headline":"Bare Arms And Bold Ideas","categories":[{"term_id":18,"name":"Sport","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":860,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/category\/sports\/"},{"term_id":1091,"name":"Unsere Geschichte","slug":"our-legacy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1091,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":18,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/category\/our-legacy\/"}],"theCategory":{"term_id":18,"name":"Sport","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":860,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/category\/sports\/"},"isFeaturedArticle":true,"isTopArticle":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188125\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}