Nigeria 2018: How a World Cup Jersey Became An Instant Classic

There are football shirts, and then there is Nigeria 2018. An instant classic the moment it dropped, the Super Eagles’ World Cup kit didn’t just join the conversation – it rewrote the rules for what a national team jersey could be. 

The Launch That Broke The Rules

When Nike’s Naija collection finally released on 1 June 2018, the reaction was unprecedented. Around three million people had already placed pre-orders, and queues snaked around Nike’s London flagship store as fans waited for a chance to buy it. The shirt sold out on launch day, with online stock gone in minutes, and resale prices on the secondary market quickly climbed to roughly two to three times the original retail price. Sky Sports polls later crowned it the best World Cup jersey of the tournament, confirming what the streets already knew. 

Design Decoded: From 1994 To Adire

Part of the magic lies in the design. Led by designer Matthew Wolff, the home shirt fused a neon green torso with stark black-and-white sleeves, a deliberate nod to Nigeria’s 1994 World Cup kit. The bold chevron pattern across the body was inspired by Super Eagles’ feathers in flight, giving the shirt a directional, almost kinetic feel even when the player stood still. Underneath that graphic hit lay deeper cultural references: the jagged rhythm of the print echoed Adire, a traditional Yoruba tie-and-dye textile, pulling centuries of craft into a piece of modern performance wear.

Russia 2018: Legacy On The Pitch

On the pitch in Russia, a young and hungry Super Eagles squad carried the shirt onto football’s biggest stage. Their 2–0 win over Iceland provided one of the tournament’s most memorable performances, but even as results went up and down, the kit’s reputation only grew. Not every World Cup produces an era-defining design; 2018 unquestionably did.

From Fashion Press To Design Museums

Fashion media took notice. GQ described Nigeria’s kits as genuine fashion items, while platforms like Highsnobiety and others highlighted how the internet had fallen in love with the design and the way it bridged football, fashion and streetwear. The collection was even shortlisted for the prestigious Beazley Designs of the Year award at London’s Design Museum, appearing alongside names like Gucci, Burberry and Fenty Beauty. For a national team kit to sit in that company says everything about its impact.

“For Naija”: When Kit Became Lifestyle

Beyond the jersey itself, the wider “For Naija” apparel collection showed how far this project extended into fashion. Floral-print tracksuit bottoms, graphic training tops and dark travel wear pieces translated contemporary Naija street culture into off-pitch product. The shirt shouted; the apparel whispered – but both spoke the same language of attitude, confidence and identity. For many fans, the lifestyle pieces are where the collection truly lives day-to-day.