The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF), in partnership with global sports brand PUMA, has unveiled ITRI as the official match ball for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025. The creative direction of the new ball was led by CAF’s Creative Development Manager, Mohamed Ghonemi, whose design captures the unity, rhythm, and artistic spirit of African football.
The ball is named ITRI—meaning “star” in Amazigh.
CAF, in a statement on November 12, 2025, said that the ball draws inspiration from Morocco’s centuries-old zellij art form, known for its intricate geometric mosaics and symbolic patterns.
Designed to embody the unity, rhythm, and passion that define African football, ITRI will make its debut during the tournament’s opening match on December 21, 2025, in Morocco.
Details about ITRI
CAF said ITRI “pays tribute to the star featured on the Moroccan flag and reflects the star patterns that hold significance in traditional zellij craftsmanship,” adding that its design “reflects the star patterns that hold significance in traditional zellij craftsmanship.”
The ball’s geometric star patterns, floral outlines, and circular symmetry all carry symbolic meaning.
The star geometry represents ambition, light, and the pursuit of excellence, while the petal shapes embody growth, celebration, and the festive energy of AFCON.
Additionally, the circular symmetry embodies the unity of nations coming together through sport.
The red-and-green colour palette, on the other hand, mirrors Morocco’s national identity, while the “Flow of Movement” patterns convey the dynamic rhythm of African football.
ITRI, which is built on PUMA’s advanced Orbita 6 technology, ensures elite performance, stability, and aerodynamic precision — merging artistry with functionality.
“We’re proud to unveil the ITRI ball – the official match ball of AFCON 2025 and a true symbol of African football’s spirit. Combining Moroccan artistry with advanced performance technology, ITRI celebrates both the host nation’s heritage and the unity of the continent. Our collaboration with CAF reflects PUMA’s lasting commitment to African football and the communities that bring it to life,” PUMA’s Peter Dangl, Director of EEMEA Distribution, noted.
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The creative direction of ITRI was led by CAF’s Creative Development Manager Mohamed Ghonemi, who has played a central role in shaping the organization’s visual identity and major design initiatives since joining CAF in 2019. Speaking about the project, the manager expressed both pride and emotion at leading the creative process.
“Weeks of sleepless nights, hundreds of sketches, countless refinements, and one shared dream – all to create a design worthy of Africa’s biggest stage,” he said.
“Honoured to have led the design of ITRI, the official match ball of TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, in collaboration with PUMA Group.”
Profile of Mohamed Ghonemi
Ghonemi’s career has bridged design innovation, storytelling, and sports branding. A graduate of Cairo Academy with a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering, the Egyptian began his journey in sports design over a decade ago, working with organizations such as Zamalek Sporting Club, Sarmady, Kijamii, and Goal.com’s Footballco before joining CAF in August 2021.
Since becoming Creative Development Manager in 2022, Ghonemi has overseen CAF’s visual identity strategy, creative campaigns, and brand collaborations, including projects that define the modern image of African football on the global stage.
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His work combines engineering precision with a designer’s eye for emotion and narrative — an approach fully embodied in the creation of ITRI.
The Egyptian also holds certificates in Professional Sport Management and Sport Event Management from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
AFCON 2025
The TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 will kick off on December 21, 2025, bringing together 24 nations in a month-long celebration of African football.
The tournament will feature state-of-the-art stadiums, cultural showcases, and a renewed focus on fan experience, symbolizing both Morocco’s hosting legacy and CAF’s vision for the future of the game.
Additionally, the 24 nations are divided into six groups of four teams each for the group stage. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 16, marking the start of the knockout phase.
From there, each match will be a single-elimination game, with extra time and penalty shootouts if necessary. The quarterfinals, semi-finals, and final will determine the champion.
The title is currently held by former hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, who lifted the title on home soil. The opening match will feature the host nation, Morocco, against Comoros on December 21 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
CAF said that the ITRI ball is available for purchase at a retail price of €130.00 (approximately Ksh19,436) in selected markets.
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