{"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\/es\/sports\/bare-arms-and-bold-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Historia de AFCON: Brazos desnudos e ideas audaces"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- post header -->\n<div class=\"row rowSingleColumn\">\n    <div class=\"col breadcrumb\">\n        <a href=\"\/es\/\">Inicio<\/a>\/\n        <a href=\"\/es\/category\/sports\/\">Deportes<\/a>\/\n        Historia de AFCON: Brazos desnudos e ideas audaces\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\/es\/category\/sports\/\">Deportes<\/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%2Fes%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%2Fes%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\/es\/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%2Fes%2Fsports%2Fbare-arms-and-bold-ideas%2F\" target=\"blank\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <h1 class=\"\" >Brazos desnudos e ideas audaces<\/h1>\n        <div class=\"articleintro\" >La apuesta de tres d\u00e9cadas de PUMA por \u00c1frica, \u00a1que ha dado sus frutos!<\/div>\n        <div class=\"date\">19 de diciembre de 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\/es\/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\/es\/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\/es\/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%2Fes%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%2Fes%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\" >A pocas semanas del inicio de la Copa Mundial de 2002, Camer\u00fan, reci\u00e9n coronado campe\u00f3n de la Copa Africana de Naciones y que ya hab\u00eda jugado con camisetas PUMA en la Copa Mundial de 1998, esperaba con impaciencia su turno para brillar en el escenario mundial.<\/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\" >Pero entonces lleg\u00f3. De forma repentina e inesperada. La FIFA dijo que la misma equipaci\u00f3n dise\u00f1ada por PUMA con la que hab\u00edan impresionado a los aficionados durante la Copa Africana de Naciones de enero-febrero de 2002 no estaba permitida. Para la FIFA, el dise\u00f1o de PUMA era simplemente inaceptable, y su reacci\u00f3n fue r\u00e1pida y contundente.<\/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\" >Para Johann Adamsson, entonces director de marketing deportivo y licencias deportivas de PUMA, la decisi\u00f3n de la FIFA fue un gran shock. \u201cSab\u00edamos que nuestra camiseta verde sin mangas era atrevida, ya que, por primera vez en la historia del f\u00fatbol, los brazos quedaban al descubierto y los hombros totalmente expuestos\u201d. Pero, en realidad, en aquel momento no hab\u00eda nada escrito en las reglas que dijera que eso no estaba permitido.<br><br>La marca se vio envuelta en una feroz y p\u00fablica batalla regulatoria con la instituci\u00f3n m\u00e1s poderosa del f\u00fatbol.\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\" >\u201cNos quedamos muy sorprendidos\u201d, afirma Adamsson. \u201cSentimos que la FIFA no hab\u00eda entendido en absoluto lo que est\u00e1bamos tratando de hacer\u201d.\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\" >Lo que PUMA hab\u00eda hecho era introducir una nueva forma de pensar en el f\u00fatbol. Hasta entonces, los futbolistas simplemente se vest\u00edan como futbolistas. PUMA desafi\u00f3 esta norma y plante\u00f3 una pregunta inc\u00f3moda: \u00bfpor qu\u00e9 los futbolistas no pod\u00edan vestirse tambi\u00e9n como atletas?<br><br>PUMA demostr\u00f3 su capacidad de recuperaci\u00f3n. Tras examinar l\u00ednea por l\u00ednea el reglamento de la FIFA, la marca se dio cuenta de que a\u00fan ten\u00eda margen para actuar. La soluci\u00f3n consisti\u00f3 en mantener la forma original de la camiseta y a\u00f1adir \u00fanicamente una manga ligera de malla negra. Fue un cambio radical que a\u00fan hoy se recuerda.<\/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>Un continente que acogi\u00f3 el cambio<\/h2>Los dise\u00f1adores de PUMA buscaban introducir velocidad, adaptabilidad y su impulso y pasi\u00f3n por el pensamiento creativo en sus dise\u00f1os. Y aqu\u00ed, \u00c1frica proporcion\u00f3 el entorno ideal para que todo esto floreciera.<\/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=\"\" >\u201cCreo sinceramente que eso fue lo que contribuy\u00f3 a que todo funcionara tan bien\u201d, explica Adamsson. \u201cEn aquel momento, el f\u00fatbol africano generaba una gran emoci\u00f3n. Era vibrante, alegre, emotivo y seguro de s\u00ed mismo. Todo ello encajaba a la perfecci\u00f3n con lo que PUMA representaba como marca deportiva: reflejaba la identidad de PUMA\u201d.\u201d<br><br>Pero para Adamsson, la apertura de \u00c1frica era tan importante como su poder est\u00e9tico.\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=\"\" >\u201cNos result\u00f3 f\u00e1cil trabajar con las federaciones africanas, porque realmente se fomentaba el cambio y la innovaci\u00f3n. A la gente le encantaban las ideas nuevas y a nosotros, a su vez, nos encantaba eso de ellos\u201c.\u201c<br>Era una cultura de toma de decisiones r\u00e1pida, donde las cadenas de aprobaci\u00f3n eran cortas.<br><br>Con una confianza cada vez mayor en su libertad creativa, PUMA ampli\u00f3 su gama de colaboraciones africanas a lo largo de la d\u00e9cada de 2000 y principios de la de 2010.<\/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: del avance al convencimiento<br><\/h2>Una de las relaciones m\u00e1s exitosas fue la establecida con Ghana, a cuyo equipo PUMA suministr\u00f3 equipaciones en tres Copas Mundiales consecutivas: la de 2006 en Alemania, la de 2010 en Sud\u00e1frica y la de 2014 en Brasil.<\/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=\"\" >Fue el per\u00edodo m\u00e1s fuerte en la historia internacional moderna de Ghana, con la naci\u00f3n entusiasmada por el f\u00fatbol. Ghana ascendi\u00f3 r\u00e1pidamente: se clasific\u00f3 para su primera Copa del Mundo en 2006, lleg\u00f3 a los octavos de final y termin\u00f3 segunda detr\u00e1s de Italia en la fase de grupos. En 2010, volvi\u00f3 a pasar de la fase de grupos por detr\u00e1s de Alemania, antes de conseguir un dram\u00e1tico empate 2-2 contra ellos en 2014. Ghana ya no era un jugador peque\u00f1o, sino que se hab\u00eda convertido en un formidable contendiente por derecho propio.<br><br>Egipto fue una parte muy diferente, pero igualmente significativa, de la participaci\u00f3n de PUMA en \u00c1frica. M\u00e1s que por su \u00e9xito en la Copa del Mundo, Egipto fue importante porque domin\u00f3 el f\u00fatbol africano, ganando la Copa Africana de Naciones tres veces consecutivas en 2006, 2008 y 2010.<\/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\" >Este logro consolid\u00f3 la asociaci\u00f3n de PUMA con el f\u00fatbol ganador en la competici\u00f3n m\u00e1s importante de \u00c1frica.<\/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>Marruecos: un nuevo referente africano<\/h2>Otro momento clave se produjo con Marruecos, cuando en 2022, con todos sus jugadores vestidos con la equipaci\u00f3n de PUMA, se convirti\u00f3 en la primera selecci\u00f3n africana en alcanzar las semifinales de un Mundial.<br>Result\u00f3 ser un acontecimiento incre\u00edble para el pa\u00eds, ya que el equipo logr\u00f3 incluso eliminar a selecciones tan consolidadas como B\u00e9lgica, Espa\u00f1a y Portugal.<br><br>Pero el evento tambi\u00e9n fue monumental para PUMA, ya que le proporcion\u00f3 una enorme visibilidad global, transformando por completo la percepci\u00f3n que se ten\u00eda de los equipos africanos.<\/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\" >Marruecos no solo tuvo una racha de suerte inesperada, sino que tambi\u00e9n jug\u00f3 de forma controlada, organizada e impresionante, demostrando un alto nivel de profesionalismo.<br><br>PUMA lo hab\u00eda conseguido. Se hab\u00eda mantenido firme durante tres d\u00e9cadas invirtiendo en el f\u00fatbol africano. Desde el desaf\u00edo de Camer\u00fan, pasando por la consistencia de Ghana y el dominio de Egipto, hasta el avance de Marruecos, la relaci\u00f3n entre PUMA y \u00c1frica se construy\u00f3 de forma lenta pero segura, a trav\u00e9s del trabajo duro, el compromiso y la asunci\u00f3n de riesgos.<br><br>Hoy en d\u00eda, la colaboraci\u00f3n entre PUMA y el f\u00fatbol africano es m\u00e1s fuerte que nunca, como queda patente en la pr\u00f3xima Copa Africana de Naciones. Con 24 equipos, seis ciudades anfitrionas y casi un mes de f\u00fatbol, la Copa Africana de Naciones es el mayor escaparate de la 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 y el f\u00fatbol africano, continuando el viaje<\/h2>PUMA es el proveedor t\u00e9cnico oficial y proveedor de balones de la TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Marruecos 2025. El pa\u00eds anfitri\u00f3n de este a\u00f1o es Marruecos, que volver\u00e1 a lucir con orgullo la equipaci\u00f3n de PUMA, al igual que Egipto, la naci\u00f3n m\u00e1s exitosa de la historia de la AFCON. Por su parte, Senegal, una de las selecciones m\u00e1s fuertes del continente en la actualidad, es otro equipo fiel a PUMA.<\/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\" >As\u00ed que cuando comience la TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Marruecos 2025 el 21 de diciembre, PUMA no se quedar\u00e1 en un segundo plano. No, estar\u00e1 en primer plano, en los anfitriones, en los pesos pesados y en toda la mayor competici\u00f3n futbol\u00edstica del continente del que se enamor\u00f3.<\/div>\n   <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Una camiseta sin mangas. Una sanci\u00f3n de la FIFA. Un continente en auge. Esta es la historia real de c\u00f3mo la negativa de PUMA a frenar la creatividad y su profundo v\u00ednculo con el f\u00fatbol africano convirtieron la controversia en credibilidad a lo largo de tres audaces d\u00e9cadas.<\/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":3181,"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":"Historia de AFCON: Brazos desnudos e ideas audaces","excerpt":"Una camiseta sin mangas. Una sanci\u00f3n de la FIFA. Un continente en auge. Esta es la historia real de c\u00f3mo la negativa de PUMA a frenar la creatividad y su profundo v\u00ednculo con el f\u00fatbol africano convirtieron la controversia en credibilidad a lo largo de tres audaces d\u00e9cadas.","status":"publish","password":"","name":"brazos desnudos e ideas audaces","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 de diciembre de 2025, 6:00","date_local":"19 de diciembre de 2025","time_local":"6:00","slug":"bare-arms-and-bold-ideas","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/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":"H\u00e9roe_25AW_SM_TS_AFCON","aspect_ratio":1.7773584905660378,"focalPointLeft":0.5,"focalPointTop":0.5},"headline":"Bare Arms And Bold Ideas","categories":[{"term_id":18,"name":"Deportes","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":862,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/category\/sports\/"},{"term_id":1091,"name":"Nuestro legado","slug":"our-legacy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1091,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":19,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/category\/our-legacy\/"}],"theCategory":{"term_id":18,"name":"Deportes","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":862,"filter":"raw","url":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/category\/sports\/"},"isFeaturedArticle":true,"isTopArticle":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188125\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puma-catchup.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}