2013 Africa Cup of Nations Finals – Friday 01 February 2013

With the action on the pitch not resuming until tomorrow, today provides an ideal opportunity to catch up with looking at the match-ball used for 2013 AFCON tournament.

Adidas are once again providing a specially commissioned ball, having produced the Wawa Aba (2008 AFCON – Ghana), Jabulani (2010 AFCON – Angola) and Comoequa (2012 AFCON – Equatorial Guinea and Gabon). For the 2013 tournament in South Africa, the Katlego was created.

Katlego, comes from the Sesotho word for ‘success’ and was selected by African football fans via an online voting competition. Adidas had provided three suggestions and Katlego emerged as the most popular, the other two names were Khanya (light) and Motswako (mixture).

The ball is a dinstinctive yellow colour and has the Adidas and CAF logo’s on it. In addition there is a triangular centrepiece surrounded by a splash of colours. This feature was inspired by the bold colours and geometric designs of the Ndebele print artworks and the dominant colours in many of the African national flags.

Unlike the much criticised version of the Jabulani ball used in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Katlego has not been the subject of any controversy (so far) in this tournament. Long may it continue to cross the line in a goals-fest as the competition enters the knock-out stage!