The first ever eco-friendly football boot was on display at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria defender William Troost-Ekong wore the revolutionary boots in his nation’s draw with Equatorial Guinea.
Troost-Ekong, who plays his club football for Greek side PAOK debuted the boots, created by sports brand Sokito. Founded by Jake Hardy, Sokito’s aim is to bring environmentally friendly football boots into mainstream football. Troost-Ekong’s relationship with Sokito started when he was playing at Turkish club Bursaspor, where teammate John Bostock introduced the Nigerian international to Hardy.
The boot itself stands out beautifully. A design inspired by Nigeria’s iconic stylish jerseys, the boot is white and green with a snazzy wavy pattern. Sokito have created the boot from corn waste, sugarcane, bamboo, and other sustainable materials, such as castor beans.
Nigeria’s skipper spoke of his pride of wearing the boots stating: “This could be my last Africa Cup, and that’s one reason why I wanted to wear sustainable boots. It’s a way to show my commitment to environmental issues. There’s a lot of hype around Nigeria: everyone talks about the kit and the excitement about the sports event, and I want to follow that positive trend.”
Stylish and sustainable, it is highly likely that Sokito’s future in the game will be an influential one as football clubs continue to aim to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
