The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in partnership with global sports brand PUMA, has officially unveiled the ITRI, the Official Match Ball for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025).

The official ball draws inspiration from Morocco’s centuries-old zellij geometric patterns, the ITRI pays homage to the host nation’s cultural heritage while symbolising the unity and rhythm of African football.

The ball will make its debut on 21 December 2025, when the continent’s premier football competition kicks off in Morocco.

Named “ITRI”, meaning “star” in Amazigh, the ball’s design reflects the star featured on the Moroccan flag and the geometric star motifs central to traditional zellij craftsmanship. Its intricate patterns and colour palette — featuring Morocco’s signature red and green — convey passion, pride, and unity.

Each design element carries symbolic meaning as the star geometry represents ambition and the pursuit of excellence while the petal outlines evoke celebration and growth.

The circular symmetry expresses the unity of the 24 nations competing for Africa’s crown.

CAF’s Creative Development Manager, Mohamed Ghonemi, described the ball as a marriage of culture and performance.

“Created for the rhythm of African football, the AFCON 2025 ball brings together art, motion, and a design shaped by African spirit and Moroccan craftsmanship,” he said. “It’s been a privilege to collaborate with PUMA on something that unites every nation at the tournament through a shared sense of connection.”

Behind the beauty of ITRI lies PUMA’s Orbita 6 technology, engineered to deliver elite-level precision, flight stability, and durability.

The ball’s design journey began shortly after Morocco was confirmed as host nation and involved months of cultural research, creative exploration, and performance testing.

Peter Dangl, PUMA’s Director for EEMEA Distribution, said the company is proud to celebrate African football through the ITRI project.

“Combining Moroccan artistry with advanced performance technology, ITRI celebrates both the host nation’s heritage and the unity of the continent,” Dangl said on Cafonline. “Our collaboration with CAF reflects PUMA’s lasting commitment to African football and the communities that bring it to life.”

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Morocco’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have suffered a setback as Nayef Aguerd, key defender for both Olympique de Marseille (OM) and the Atlas Lions, faces a worsening groin injury that has ruled him out of the national team’s upcoming training camp.

Aguerd, who has been battling pubalgia for several weeks, aggravated the problem during Marseille’s 3–0 Ligue 1 victory over Brest on November 8. Although he started the match, the 28-year-old was forced off late in the game after feeling renewed discomfort.

OM head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed after the match that the injury had been troubling the defender for some time and now requires rest and further medical evaluation.

“Aguerd’s the bad news today,” De Zerbi admitted. “He’s been struggling with this pubalgia issue for a while, and it seems to be getting worse. He’ll have some tests, but he definitely needs a bit of time out.”

Local media in France report that Aguerd had already been rested during Marseille’s previous fixture, an early sign that the club was trying to manage his condition. His absence from Morocco’s upcoming camp—featuring friendlies against Mozambique and Uganda—has now been confirmed, dealing a blow to Walid Regragui’s plans ahead of the continental showpiece.

A Double Blow for Club and Country

For Morocco, Aguerd’s absence comes at a delicate time. The West Ham United alumnus, known for his aerial strength and calm distribution from the back, has been a mainstay in Regragui’s defensive structure since the 2022 World Cup. His leadership and consistency will be difficult to replace as Morocco fine-tunes tactics for AFCON 2025 on home soil.

At club level, the news also complicates matters for De Zerbi, who is still shaping his Marseille side to compete effectively in Ligue 1 and the Europa League. Losing one of his most reliable defenders could disrupt the defensive balance just as OM seemed to be finding rhythm.

Recovery Plan Underway

According to L’Équipe and Foot Mercato, Aguerd will undergo additional scans to determine the severity of the injury and outline a treatment plan.

The French club and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) are reportedly coordinating efforts to ensure the player’s recovery is handled carefully to avoid aggravating the condition.

For now, both sides are prioritizing caution, knowing that rushing his return could jeopardize Aguerd’s participation in the AFCON — a tournament Morocco is not only hosting but also widely tipped to contend for.

If the defender’s rehabilitation progresses as planned, he could still recover in time for the tournament’s final preparation phase. But for now, Morocco’s hopes rest uneasily on the outcome of his medical tests — and on Regragui’s ability to adapt his back line without one of his most trusted pillars.

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Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, has expressed optimism that star defender Achraf Hakimi will recover in time to feature at next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite suffering a serious ankle injury that has ruled him out of action for the rest of 2025 with Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking during a press conference in Rabat on Thursday to announce Morocco’s squad for their upcoming international friendlies, Regragui assured fans that every effort is being made to ensure the 26-year-old right-back is fit for the Atlas Lions’ AFCON opener against Comoros on December 21.

“Let me be clear… We’ll do everything to make sure Achraf Hakimi is 100% fit to face Comoros in the opening match on December 21,” the coach declared. “Even if he cannot play, he’ll still be there with us. Of course he will – he’s our best player and our leader.”

Hakimi sustained the injury earlier in the week after a reckless challenge from Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz, which left him clutching his ankle in visible pain. Subsequent medical tests reportedly confirmed a syndesmosis rupture — a tear between the bones in the lower leg. Recovery typically requires two weeks of immobilization followed by four to six weeks of rehabilitation, raising doubts about his readiness for the tournament in Morocco’s camp.

Spanish outlet Marca reported that while Hakimi will not need surgery, he is expected to miss the remainder of the calendar year with his club, PSG. Nevertheless, Regragui remains confident in both the player’s resilience and the quality of Morocco’s medical team.

“If there’s one player who can come back quickly, it’s Achraf Hakimi,” Regragui insisted. “We have one of the best medical staffs in the world, as does PSG, with whom we maintain a strong partnership. But he will only play if he’s 100% ready.”

The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists will face Mozambique and Uganda in two preparatory friendlies on November 14 and November 18, respectively.

Regragui’s 26-man squad includes several of Morocco’s key players, such as goalkeepers Yassine Bounou and Mounir El Kajoui, defenders Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui, midfielders Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, and Bilal El Khannouss, as well as forwards Youssef En-Nesyri, Brahim Díaz, and Ismael Saibari. Rising talent Hamza Igamane is also part of the selection.

Hakimi’s fitness will be closely monitored in the coming weeks as Morocco prepares to challenge for their second continental crown — and their first since 1976. His presence, both on and off the pitch, could prove decisive for a team seen as one of the favourites to win AFCON 2025 on home soil.

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