{"id":59741,"date":"2025-12-18T15:33:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T15:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/?p=59741"},"modified":"2025-12-18T15:33:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T15:33:36","slug":"satirical-video-exposes-totalenergies-greenwashing-of-afcon-as-tournament-approaches-kick-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/press\/59741\/satirical-video-exposes-totalenergies-greenwashing-of-afcon-as-tournament-approaches-kick-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Satirical video exposes TotalEnergies\u2019 greenwashing of AFCON as tournament approaches kick off"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Johannesburg, South Africa \u2014 <\/strong>&nbsp;Greenpeace Africa, together with <strong>Magamba Network<\/strong> and partners in the <strong>Kick Polluters Out Network<\/strong>, have launched a powerful new <strong>satirical video<\/strong> exposing <strong>TotalEnergies\u2019 sponsorship of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)<\/strong> as a deliberate attempt to greenwash its destructive environmental and human rights record across the continent.<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSXDagyiJrD\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSXDagyiJrD\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSXDagyiJrD\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Greenpeace Africa (@greenpeaceafrica)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n<p>A second satirical video produced by <strong>Journal Rappe<\/strong>, members of the Kick Polluters Out network, will be released on <strong>Friday<\/strong>, extending the campaign\u2019s reach across <strong>Francophone Africa<\/strong> and reinforcing the call to end TotalEnergies\u2019 greenwashing of African football.<\/p>\n\n<p>These videos challenge TotalEnergies\u2019 efforts to associate itself with African pride, culture, and football, while the company continues to expand fossil fuel projects that drive climate breakdown, displace communities, and undermine human rights from <strong>Mozambique to Tanzania<\/strong>, including through the controversial <strong>East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>The English version features <strong>BAFTA-award-winning UK comedian Jolyon Rubinstein<\/strong> alongside <strong>Zimbabwean comedian Munashe Chirisa<\/strong>. The film delivers a sharp and accessible critique of what campaigners describe as TotalEnergies\u2019 <strong>neo-colonial business model<\/strong>, using humour to expose the gap between the company\u2019s public image and the real impacts of its operations on African communities.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>\u201cIt\u2019s a disgrace that at a time where 99% of climate scientists could not be clearer that Africa is tipping into a climate catastrophe, a neo-colonial fossil fuel giant can greenwash their image through one of the world\u2019s most beloved football tournaments. Let\u2019s work together to show TotalEnergies the red card,\u201d<\/strong> said <strong>Jolyon Rubinstein, <\/strong>one of the actors\/creatives who worked on the AFCON video.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Football should unite, not greenwash pollution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>TotalEnergies\u2019 continued sponsorship of AFCON comes as the company faces <strong>growing scrutiny over fossil fuel expansion, land grabs, and displacement of communities, as well as legal and regulatory actions linked to misleading climate claims and environmental harm<\/strong>. From mass displacement linked to oil and gas projects to accusations of deceptive greenwashing, critics argue that the company\u2019s branding strategy seeks to distract from mounting evidence of harm.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>\u201cTotalEnergies isn\u2019t sponsoring AFCON to support African football; they\u2019re using the beauty of the game to hide the ugliness of their pollution,\u201d<\/strong> said <strong>Trust <\/strong>, campaigner with Kick Polluters Out. <strong>\u201cThey only care about their image and profits. Greenwashing is their favourite tactic, and this pretend shift into renewables is just another PR stunt. AFCON is simply another chance for them to distract Africa from the destruction they cause across our continent.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Greenpeace Africa, Magamba Network and the Kick Polluters Out movement stress that football, one of Africa\u2019s most powerful cultural forces, must not be exploited to legitimize companies whose core business accelerates climate catastrophe and deepens inequality. Campaigners are urging the <strong>Confederation of African Football (CAF)<\/strong> to adopt <strong>fossil-free sponsorship policies<\/strong>, similar to how tobacco sponsorships were once removed from sport.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Call to CAF and African institutions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>The video launch forms part of a wider continental mobilisation calling on sports institutions, governments, and sponsors to <strong>put people and the planet before polluters\u2019 profits<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>As Africa faces worsening floods, droughts, and heatwaves as a result of the climate crisis, allowing polluters to wrap themselves in the symbols of our unity and joy in is unacceptable when they ultimately need to be held accountable,\u201d Sherelee Odayar, Oil and Gas Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, said. \u201cAFCON should inspire hope, resilience and solidarity &#8211; not serve as a billboard for climate destruction.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>LINKS TO VIDEO: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DSXDagyiJrD\/\"><strong>Instagram<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YOwz2NqQEAc\"><strong>YouTube<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><strong>ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-beige-100-background-color has-background\">For media inquiries, contact: <a href=\"mailto:pressdesk.africa@greenpeace.org\">pressdesk.africa@greenpeace.org<\/a>, <a href=\"mailto:rmavambu@greenpeace.org\">rmavambu@greenpeace.org<\/a>, <a href=\"mailto:trust@magambanetwork.com\">trust@magambanetwork.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greenpeace Africa, together with Magamba Network and partners in the Kick Polluters Out Network, have launched a powerful new satirical video exposing TotalEnergies\u2019 sponsorship of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a deliberate attempt to greenwash its destructive environmental and human rights record across the continent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":59745,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"Local Campaign","p4_local_project":"","p4_basket_name":"Food","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[46,26],"p4-page-type":[14],"class_list":["post-59741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-protecttheenvironment","tag-greenpeaceafrica","tag-energy","p4-page-type-press"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59741"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59747,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59741\/revisions\/59747"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59741"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=59741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}