The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has adopted a Nigerian language name for its official match ball for interclub competitions.

CAF revealed that the new match ball, in collaboration with PUMA, is OLA.

In a statement by the football body on Wednesday, CAF clarified that “OLA” holds significant meanings in both Yoruba and Arabic languages. In Yoruba, it signifies “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect,” while in Arabic, it represents “rise” and “success.”

It reads: “Ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster line-up that sees Africa’s top clubs battle for TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup and TotalEnergies CAF Champions League top honours, Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) and PUMA have unveiled a new match ball: OLA,” the governing body announced.

“OLA will be used this weekend – starting in Tunis when Espérance Sportive de Tunis host Al Ahly of Egypt in the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Final and on Sunday when Zamalek hosts RS Berkane in the second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup final at the Cairo International Stadium.

“OLA, which means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba, and “rise” and “success” in Arabic, was chosen to symbolize the dynamic and energetic nature of African football.

“Embodying the spirit of Africa, Ola’s design is inspired by the continent’s vibrant colours, art, and traditions.”

The newly introduced match ball will be used for the two-legged CAF Champions League final, featuring Al Ahly and Esperance, as well as the return fixture of the CAF Confederation final between RS Berkane and Zamalek in Cairo on Saturday, May 19.

Mariangeles:
Just so you know, Ola also means jewel in Igbo language. 💎

“OLA, which means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba, and “rise” and “success” in Arabic, was chosen to symbolize the dynamic and energetic nature of African football.

EtinosaDLaw:


You people are irredeemably tribalistic on this forum

Ofunaofu:


He is some what right

Infact you can go a bit further...Olaniyi in Igbo means useless..... Useless things. Things no longer useful

idealogical:


To start with, the story is in plain English and self-explanatory, it has nothing to do with Igbo language or meaning, but as usual, it's impossible to post anything on this forum without injecting igbo into the conversation or turning it into igbo this and that.

If you are looking for a tribalist, look in the mirror.

Mariangeles:
Just so you know, Ola also means jewel in Igbo language. 💎

Hussein052:
This is beautiful
As Africans we need to cherish and promote our indigenous languages.

BigIyanga:

Passive aggressive tribalist talking ..OP was actually pointing that ola means jewel in their language…an open-minded person would like to know if ola means something else in Tiv, Efik, Ibibio, and Fulani… but no, you doubled down on your cultural idiocy and insular mentality. This is 2024…a closeted bigot is like a citizen of North Korea.

idealogical:



Passive aggression is derailing the topic by injecting irrelevant and unrelated references into the topic, the story has nothing to do with Igbo names or meanings or whatever translation you have for Igbo words.

The topic is not about what Ola means in Tiv, Efik, Ibibio, and Fulani.

Always resist the urge to turn everything into igbo this and that, that's bigotry.

BigIyanga:

But in the OP, it mentions that Ola has an Arabic meaning too?? Did you have any problems with that? I would like to know if Ola ‘means’ something in Swahili too