In partnership with the UN-backed Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), they have launched the 'Kick Out Polio' campaign ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which begins in Morocco on December 21.
“Polio is a disease that we simply have to take seriously,” said Naby Keïta of the Guinea national team, who plays for the Hungarian club Ferencváros.
The other football greats are Sébastien Haller (Ivory Coast), Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon), Rodolfo Bodipo Díaz (Equatorial Guinea), Michael Essien (Ghana) and Bruno Ecuele Manga (Gabon).
Advances and setbacks
Decades of global collaboration have rolled back polio, a highly infectious and debilitating disease that once paralyzed more than 1,000 children a day.
These efforts have saved approximately 20 million boys and girls from paralysis and 1.5 million lives, the GPEI stated.
The public-private partnership is led by national governments with six partners including 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 around the world at risk.
Progress to eradicate the disease is threatened by funding cuts, conflict, vaccine hesitancy and overburdened health systems, making this final stage of eradication the most difficult.
“My dream is for Africa to be completely eradicated from polio. Africa, it is our turn to give polio the red card,” said Fabrice Ondoa, former member of the Cameroon national team.
Social media challenge
Soccer stars are sharing their journeys of perseverance and have launched a challenge on social media to show parents and leaders that even the most difficult obstacles can be overcome.
Now that the polio game is in overtime, they invite people to grab four things: a soccer ball, a bottle, their phone and a friend.
The goal is to kick the bottle from the furthest distance and nominate someone who should take on the #KickOutPolio challenge.
Then, publish the video on social networks, tag a friend and your favorite footballer, using the campaign hashtag.
“We know that polio is a big problem in Africa and that we must fight against this serious disease. Now it's your turn,” said Rodolfo Bodipo Díaz, former member of the Equatorial Guinea national team and Spanish team Deportivo Alavés.
Cross-border collaboration
Despite current challenges, Africa is taking enormous steps to combat polio.
The GPEI noted that 15 countries vaccinated almost 200 million children between January and October of this year.
“Coordinated campaigns across regions, from the Horn of Africa to the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel, have demonstrated the power of cross-border collaboration, protecting tens of millions of children,” he said.
A ten-year-old boy plays soccer in an internally displaced persons 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 so that the disease disappears forever.
“I overcame many challenges in my football career to become who I am today. Likewise, I believe Africa can overcome the challenge of eradicating polio and achieving a polio-free future,” said Michael Essien, who played for his native Ghana and English club Chelsea FC.
Bruno Ecuele Manga called on African leaders to unite against polio, insisting that “we have to defeat it because we need the youth of Africa”, who are the future of the continent.
“In Africa, polio is a real health problem, especially for children,” added Sébastien Haller. “Once there is no more polio, it will be a great victory.”
A women's team at the Play2Remember tournament at the Togetherness Cooperative Center in Kigali, Rwanda.
