Campaign groups have renewed criticism of Total Energies as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets under way, accusing the energy company of using its sponsorship of the tournament to improve its public image amid concerns over environmental and human rights impacts linked to its operations in Africa.
Magamba Network and the Kick Polluters Out movement, working with Greenpeace Africa launched the #KickTotalOutOfAFCON campaign and released two satirical videos challenging TotalEnergies’ association with African football.
The groups described the sponsorship as an example of “sportswashing” and said it distracts from the company’s fossil fuel projects across the continent.
Kick Polluters Out is a network of African creatives hosted by the Magamba Network in Zimbabwe, with partners including Buni Media in Kenya and Journal Rappe in Senegal.
The campaign materials criticise TotalEnergies’ expansion of oil and gas projects, including the proposed East African Crude Oil Pipeline, which campaigners say contributes to climate change, environmental damage and the displacement of communities.
One English-language video features British comedian Jolyon Rubinstein alongside Zimbabwean comedian Munashe Chirisa, using satire to question the gap between the company’s branding and the impacts of its projects. A French-language video produced by Journal Rappe was released on Dec. 19 to reach audiences in Francophone Africa.
“It’s a disgrace that at a time when climate scientists could not be clearer that Africa is tipping into a climate catastrophe, a neo-colonial fossil fuel giant is allowed to greenwash its image through one of the world’s most beloved football tournaments. “It’s time to show TotalEnergies the red card,” said Jolyon Rubinstein, one of the creatives involved in the AFCON parody video.
Buni Media, Edward Khaemba said the campaign aims to use satire, puppetry and animation to draw attention to what he described as environmental and social harms linked to fossil fuel projects, as AFCON 2025 begins in Morocco.
“As the whistle blows for the kick-off of AFCON 2025 in Morocco, we join fellow partners in the Kick Polluters Out network in deploying every available tool in the realms of satire, puppetry, and animation to shout these transgressions into the ears of conscious Africans and the global community with one clear call, AFCON should not be used as a laundromat.”
“This season, Buni Media has seen a record number of young creatives eager to lend their hands and voices, using satirical puppetry and animated cartoons to air these grievances, puncture hypocrisy, and stand in solidarity with affected communities across Africa,” he said.
TotalEnergies’ sponsorship of AFCON has drawn scrutiny as the company faces criticism from environmental groups over fossil fuel expansion, land acquisition and community displacement, as well as legal and regulatory challenges related to climate and environmental claims.
“As Africa faces worsening floods, droughts, and heatwaves driven by the climate crisis, allowing polluters to wrap themselves in symbols of our unity and joy is unacceptable. AFCON should inspire hope, resilience, and solidarity, not serve as a billboard for climate destruction ,” said Sherelee Odayar, an oil and gas campaigner at Greenpeace Africa in South Africa.
The campaign groups are calling on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to end its sponsorship agreement with TotalEnergies and to adopt fossil-free and ethical sponsorship policies. They said an open letter was delivered in December 2025 to the office of CAF President Patrice Motsepe, urging the governing body to reject future fossil fuel sponsorships.
“TotalEnergies isn’t sponsoring AFCON to support African football, they’re using the beauty of the game to hide the ugliness of their pollution. They put their profits before people and the planet. Greenwashing is their favourite tactic, and this so-called shift into renewables is just another PR stunt,” said Trust Chikodzo, coordinator of Kick Polluters Out in Zimbabwe, calling on CAF to terminate the sponsorship deal.
“CAF must immediately terminate its sponsorship deal with TotalEnergies, refuse future partnerships with fossil fuel corporations, and source sponsorship from ethical, fossil-free partners. African football cannot be complicit in climate injustice. There will be no football on a dead planet. It’s time to kick TotalEnergies out of AFCON,” he added.
CAF and TotalEnergies have not publicly responded to the campaigners’ latest statements.
Kick Polluters Out is a movement of African creatives fighting against Big Polluters and for a just, green and participatory Africa. The movement is hosted by Magamba Network based in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa – with the East Africa content hub run by Buni Media in Kenya and West Africa work carried out by Journal Rappe in Senegal.
Links to english language totalenergies satirical video: Instagram, YouTube
Links to french language totalenergies hip hop video: Instagram, YouTube
