Tiger teeth, royalty and Afcon’s special match ball
Egyptian and Senegalese footballers will be battling for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) crown this weekend, kicking around a ball that has a special Cameroonian design.
The hosts named the official tournament ball “toghu”, after a popular traditional outfit hailing from Cameroon’s North-West region.
The material was originally worn by royalty and features symbols that represent the culture and history of the people.
“This design is called tiger teeth,” Yaoundé fabric businessman Fule Valentine told the BBC – who is behind the ball’s look.
“It is the main design that was used by queens and kings. It’s an animal that when it’s around no other animal comes around – that is why they highlighted it on the official match ball of the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Mr Valentine said he first came up with it for the Olympics. His creation has since been a feature of official Cameroonian delegations at recent major sporting events – and that’s why the Afcon organisers wanted it too.
Given the conflict that has been raging in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, some have wondered if the “toghu” has been bringing people together, given its origins in the North-West, one of the provinces affected by the separatist rebellion.
Sadly for Cameroonians, the country’s football team did not make the final – but they will be playing Burkina Faso on Saturday for third place – kicking around a ball which Mr Valetine hopes will become a symbol of national integration.
By BBC
