Ivory Coast 5

 

Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenghua, China)
vs. Austria (3:0) | Friendly | 2012 in Austria

 

As foreshadowed in my previous post on Ghana, colour-fades used to be a thing very briefly in 2012/2013 in West Africa, apparently. Like the Ghanaians, the Ivorians did experiment with the unusual design, forcing their legend Didier Drogba to wear a shirt that either looks like a dusty green shirt or a grass-stained orange shirt. Thanks for those experiments, Puma, and thanks to Chris, who also sold me this one for about 20 Euro when he stopped collecting.

Ghana 3

 

Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, UAE)
vs. Niger (3:0) | AFCON Group Stage | 2013 in South Africa

There is no good reason to have a colour-fading shirt, apart from it not being banned. It's just stupendous. And, of course, i love that at least Ghana and the Ivory Coast thus decided to go for it in 2013. When my friend Chris stopped collecting and offered me this beauty I thus just had to grab it for 25 Euro. Thanks, Chris, much appreciated!

Ghana 2

 

Theophilus Annorbaah (Medeama SC)
vs. Congo, DR (1:0) | CHAN Quart Final | 2014 in South Africa

When reviving this blog in late 2024, I was surprised to find that this Ghana shirt was never uploaded to the blog. It might not be the most exciting shirt in the world, though I do like the flag-coloured flags sprinkled all over it, but I certainly do know that I do own it for a while now. I even have proof of it, as I did take this shirt with me to Ghana when I traveled the country in 2018. So here is proof: Me at the top of the Independence Arch at Black Star Square in Accra, Ghana:

Congo, DR 3

 

 

Joyce Lomalisa (AS Vita)
vs. Guinea (1:1, 5:4 pen.) | CHAN Semi Final | 2016 in Rwanda

The DR Congo is relatively known for their absurd football shirt. They are not only often absolutely beasts, in this case quite literally, but they are also weirdly produced by O'Neills, an Irish company otherwise doing Gaelic Football shirts, for reasons I fail to understand. This one, for sure, is the most impressive piece of that cooperation with its all-over leopard print and the massive leopard on the front.

This particular shirt came to me from my mate Chris, who unfortunately stopped collecting and sold large parts of his collection off to me. I am super grateful that he did pass this one, a shirt he once bought at Subside Sport in London. That it is numbered by Chancel Mbemba, arguably the best Congolaise footballer out there, does only make this even more special. Thanks, Chris!