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…team depart for Turkey
By Ebenezer Bajela.
Nike, the kits manufacturer of the country’s national teams, on Monday unveiled the Super Falcons jerseys for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The home and away uniforms that the former African champions would wear when the Women’s World Cup begins on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand were made public and shared on the Super Falcons and the Nigeria Football Association social media pages.
The light green — jersey, short and socks — is the home uniform, while the home kit jersey and short is black, with designs all over, and red socks.
Nonetheless, the red socks are a brand-new addition to the Nigerian outfits for the first time in the country’s football history, since the men’s national team, known as the Red Devils before Independence, was renamed the Green Eagles on attainment of self-rule.
“The Nigeria National Team Collection draws from the distinctiveness of the country’s local prints and patterns,” read a statement from Nike.
“These traditional designs are blended with current styles from the fashion scene of the capital city of Abuja. In an electric green colour scheme, the home kits feature a bespoke pattern on the cuffs and sock ribbing inspired by traditional Nigerian artwork and textiles.
“The forest green away kits combine modern shapes with traditional prints; the up-close details on the graphic pattern pay homage to the team’s “Super Falcons” name.”
Fans, however, fell in love with the light green jersey, while expressing their displeasure with the away uniform.
A Twitter user, Oluwatosin, admired the jersey but says the Falcons lacks a quality coach.
“Jersey is so fine, but we no get better coach. Na journey man we get as coach.”
AdeBanghy23 wrote on Twitter, “The lemon green is fine but the black is a no no. It does not resonate with our flag nor what the Nigerian jerseys have always stood for. When we are not a club football team who changes away jersey and home yearly. No shades.”
Chiemeka Emee added, “WOW!! Is this for real? For me, the only problem with the dark jersey is the red socks. Other than that, this is amazing!”
Bothered by the red socks, Emeraldinho rhetorically asked, “Red socks from where now?”
Dave Lummy added, “Is this about the NFF badge now than the national flag? The green is superb but the dark wasn’t mixed well. We support regardless.”
“What do the red socks stand for? Should have made it white instead,” Precious said.
The Nigeria national team has traditionally used a mostly-solid green on green primary set with white numbering, lettering, and highlights; coupled with all-white reversed secondary kits, all emblematic of the colours of the Nigerian flag. The shade of green has varied over the years. An olive drab-tinged, forest green was frequently favoured during the 1980s to the early 1990s, and jade has appeared in each of those decades as well; even harlequin has been used. Over the last decade, the team has appeared to settle on the more standard office green ,which most closely resembles the shade used on the flag. Nigeria’s first national teams used a solid scarlet top over white shorts and socks until the country adopted its current colours after its independence.
Apart from Nigeria, other countries that have their kits released are the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, Canada, England, Portugal, Brazil, Korea and Holland.
This is the first Women’s World Cup to feature 32 teams competing in eight groups, with Nigeria appearing in their ninth World Cup, but more than ever they are heading into the tournament with their worst run in a long time, after winning just one of their last eight games, losing seven.
Meanwhile, the team departed for Turkey on Monday ahead of the friendlies against Haiti women’s national team and World Cup co-hosts New Zealand.
The nine-time African champions will come up against Haiti at the Emir Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey on Friday, before taking on World Cup co-hosts New Zealand at the Mardan Sports Complex, also in Antalya next Tuesday.