With the Africa Cup of Nations tournament just around the corner,  we wanted to hip you to the official ball that will be used. The adidas “wawa aba” ball is one of the best official tournament balls that has come out. Not only is it the most visually stimulating, but it also has significant meaning.  The colors of the ball are the national colors of Ghana, the host nation, and the name of the ball has deep history in Western Africa.

According the the adidas press release, “For the Akan culture originating from Western Africa the name “wawa aba” is a symbol of persistence. People there particularly believe in the strength and team spirit of a community.  The wawa aba is the seed of the wawa tree, one of the strongest and most processible woods of Africa. For the population, the wawa aba mainly has mystical significance. These are people who don’t let failure discourage them, who seize all opportunities successfully and who are thus just as strong and adaptable as the wawa aba.”

Good to see some color and creativity being thrown into the performance side of the sport. I say it’s about time.