When Nigeria lined up in a World Cup warm up game against England on Saturday, it was more than just the football that was a big topic of discussion. The dazzling new kit that Victor Moses and co. were sporting certainly turned heads and started many discussions, with even the TV commentators talking about the huge demand for the kit.
High demand for kits
Nike’s much anticipated design saw the home kit being sold out just minutes after being released and the Nike store in London’s Oxford St, was inundated with orders, as well as having queues leading out of the doors. 3 million shirts had been pre-ordered prior to Friday’s release, giving a clear indication that this was a kit that was going to be flying off the shelves. Unfortunately for Nike, it would appear that they were unprepared for these levels of interest and they have now delayed the release date to help cope with the demand for the hottest kit of the World Cup 2018.
Making fashion waves
Source: versus.co.uk
It is not just the home kit that has caused huge excitement; Nigeria fans are clamouring to get their hands on the away kit too. The home kit sticks to Nigeria’s traditional colours of green and white but the design is far more flamboyant than previous kits. With vibrant green and black arrows (or Eagle-like wings), with a luminous green that almost looks like electric shockwaves, it has certainly been making waves in the football fashion stakes.
The Nigeria kit feels like a statement of intent – these players are going to the World Cup to set it alight. They refuse to be underdogs, or the team that isn’t exciting enough to make the headlines. In the match against England on Saturday, there were flashes of this intent. With a large contingent of players based at teams in the London area, it was no surprise to see such a huge following of Nigeria fans packed into a noisy Wembley Stadium.
Time to fly high
Arsenal’s Iwobi and Chelsea’s Moses are two of the big name London based players representing the Super Eagles this summer and Mikel Obi is another name that Chelsea fans will remember fondly. The fans have put their money where their loyalty lies and Nigeria will hopefully repay their faith with a string of full-hearted displays. This World Cup could be the year that the Super Eagles fly high and show the world just what they are all about. Failing that, they will be remembered for having the most extravagant kit in the tournament and causing Nike a few headaches!
