Competition inside the African Cup of Nations stadiums is no longer limited to tactical plans and technical numbers, after the continental tournament entered a new global transformation line, entitled environmental sustainability, with the emergence of vegan shoes as one of the features of the current edition, in a step that reflects a gradual change in the awareness of players and the football industry towards environmental issues and reducing waste.
The tournament held in Morocco witnessed the presence of shoes made from plant-based and recycled materials, led by the British brand “Socketto”, which is the only one in the world specialized in producing environmentally friendly football shoes. This trend found practical resonance with a number of African players, in light of shocking numbers about excessive consumption of shoes during one season.
Nigerian defender Chidozie Awaziime was one of the most prominent figures who adopted this transformation, after he discovered during his participation in the 2023 African Cup of Nations that he had consumed seven pairs of shoes in just one tournament, and later described the matter as “environmental tampering.” This experience prompted him to review his behavior and become involved in the “Suketo” project as an investor seeking to change the culture of consumption within football.
Awaziem stressed that talk about the environment has become present in the locker rooms, stressing that the responsibility of the players does not stop at the limits of performance on the field, but rather extends to thinking about the future of future generations. Based on this conviction, he decided to regulate his consumption, contenting himself with one or two pairs of shoes annually, after he used to change them every two weeks.
For his part, Jake Hardy, founder of Sokito, believes that the real solution lies in producing shoes that last longer, whether for professionals or amateurs, stressing that the goal is to reduce the pace of production and reduce the environmental burdens associated with the sports shoe industry.
The brand was founded in 2017, but reached maturity in 2022 with the launch of the “Divesta” model, which is made with more than 50% recycled materials, a percentage greater than what is offered by major international companies.
This trend began to attract attention within the African continent, where more than ten Nigerian players were seen adopting these shoes, along with players from Egypt, Zambia and Mozambique, especially the red version that was launched specifically for the African Cup of Nations.
On the other hand, some sustainability experts raise questions about the durability of these shoes, considering that the “vegan” label alone is not enough unless scientific tests prove their superiority over traditional alternatives.
Despite these reservations, Hardy confirms that his brand relies on complete transparency in advertising the materials used, with a willingness to reduce profit margins in exchange for products that are more environmentally friendly, indicating future plans to gradually reduce prices.
