Six African football stars have joined forces to urge the continent to vaccinate every child against polio, launching the ‘Kick Out Polio’ campaign ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco.
The campaign, in partnership with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), features Naby Keïta (Guinea), Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire), Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon), Rodolfo Bodipo Díaz (Equatorial Guinea), Michael Essien (Ghana), and Bruno Ecuele Manga (Gabon). The footballers are calling on African leaders, parents, and communities to join the fight against the disease through vaccination.
“Polio is an illness that we simply need to take seriously,” said Keïta. Fabrice Ondoa added, “Africa, it is our turn to give a red card to polio.”
Despite significant progress—including nearly 200 million children vaccinated across 15 countries in 2025—outbreaks continue, fueled by funding cuts, conflict, vaccine hesitancy, and strained health systems.
The footballers are also promoting a social media challenge, encouraging people to share videos using the hashtag #KickOutPolio to raise awareness. Michael Essien emphasized, “In the same way I overcame challenges in football, Africa can achieve a polio-free future.”
The initiative highlights the urgent need for cross-border collaboration and renewed commitment from leaders and communities to eradicate polio from the continent.