In partnership with the UN-backed Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), they have launched the ‘Kick Out Polio’ campaign ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which begins in Morocco on 21 December.
“Polio is a disease that we simply have to take seriously,” said Naby Keïta of Guinea’s national team, who plays for Hungarian club Ferencváros.
The other great footballers are Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire), Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon), Rodolfo Bodipo Díaz (Equatorial Guinea), Michael Essien (Ghana) and Bruno Ecuele Manga (Gabon).
Progress and setbacks
Decades of global cooperation have pushed back polio – a highly contagious and debilitating disease that once paralyzed more than 1,000 children a day.
These efforts have saved about 20 million boys and girls from paralysis and 1.5 million lives, GPEI said.
The public-private partnership is led by national governments with six partners, which include the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Although Africa has made great strides toward eradication, polio outbreaks continue in several countries, putting children everywhere at risk.
Progress to eradicate the disease is threatened by funding cuts, conflicts, vaccine hesitancy and strained health systems, making this final phase of eradication the most difficult.
“My dream is for Africa to be completely eradicated from polio. Africa, it’s our turn to give a red card to polio,” said Fabrice Ondoa, formerly of the Cameroon national team.
Social media challenge
The soccer stars are sharing their journeys of endurance and have launched a challenge on social media to show parents and managers that even the toughest obstacles can be overcome.
With the fight against polio now in extra time, they are inviting people to grab four things – a football, a bottle, their phone and a friend.
The goal is to kick the bottle down from the furthest distance and name someone to take the #KickOutPolio challenge.
Then post the video on social media, tag a friend and your favorite footballer using the campaign’s hashtag.
“We know that in Africa polio is a big problem and that we have to fight against this very serious disease. Now it’s your turn,” said Rodolfo Bodipo Díaz, a former member of the Equatorial Guinea national team and Spanish club Deportivo Alavés.
Cross-border cooperation
Despite ongoing challenges, Africa is making huge strides to beat back polio.
The GPEI noted that 15 countries vaccinated nearly 200 million children between January and October this year.
“Coordinated campaigns across regions – from the Horn of Africa to Lake Chad and the Sahel – have demonstrated the power of cross-border cooperation protecting tens of thousands of children,” it said.
A ten-year-old boy plays football in an internally displaced camp in Abushok, Sudan.
‘A great victory’ ahead
The Kick Out Polio campaign calls on everyone across the continent to support the urgent need to vaccinate all children to eradicate the disease forever.
“I overcame many challenges in my football career to become who I am today. In the same way, I believe that Africa can overcome the challenge of eradicating polio and achieve a polio-free future,” said Michael Essien, who played for his native Ghana and English club Chelsea FC.
Bruno Ecuele Manga appealed to African leaders to stand together against polio, insisting that “we have to defeat it because we need Africa’s youth”, who are the continent’s future.
“In Africa, polio is a real health problem, especially for children,” added Sébastien Haller. “When there is no more polio, it will be a great victory.”
A girls team at the Play2Remember tournament at the Togetherness Cooperative Center in Kigali, Rwanda.
