African Footballers Unite to ‘kick Out Polio’ Ahead of AFCON 2025

In partnership with teh UN-backed Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), they have launched the ‘Kick out Polio’ campaign before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 begins in Morocco on December 21.

“Polio is an illness that we simply need to take seriously,” said Naby Keïta of the Guinea National Team, who plays for Ferencváros in Hungary.

Other football stars joining the effort are Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire),Fabrice ondoa (Cameroon),Rodolfo Bodipo Díaz (Equatorial Guinea),Michael Essien (Ghana),and Bruno Ecuele Manga (Gabon).

Progress and Challenges

years of working together around the world have greatly reduced polio – a very contagious disease that once paralyzed over 1,000 children each day.

These efforts have protected about 20 million children from paralysis and saved 1.5 million lives,according to the GPEI.

The partnership is led by national governments and includes six partners, such as the World Health Association (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

While Africa has made significant progress toward eliminating polio, outbreaks still happen in several countries, putting children everywhere at risk.

Efforts to end the disease are threatened by less funding, conflict, people being hesitant to get the vaccine, and weak healthcare systems, making this final stage the hardest yet.

“My dream is for Africa to be completely free of polio. Africa, it is our turn to give a red card to polio,” said Fabrice Ondoa, formerly of cameroon’s National Team.

Social Media Campaign

the footballers are sharing their personal stories and encouraging people to join the fight against polio on social media.