U-23 Eagles to unveil Nigeria’s new jerseys against Japan tomorrow

When the Nigerian U-23 football team step out for their first match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games tomorrow, which is against Japan, they will come out in a new set of jerseys designed by national team jersey sponsors, Nike.

Since Adidas pulled out of the sponsorship deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after the Brazil 2014 World Cup, national teams’ jerseys have come in different shades and designs, with the patterns and colours changing with every competition.

Now, those days are gone for good, according to the NFF, which has promised that the new outfits will bring back the teams’ unique identity.According to the NFF, the new Nike home and away kits feature Dri-FIT technology.

The NFF said in a statement yesterday “the home kit is a solid green, with white ribbing around the back of the modern crewneck collar.  “In keeping true to the national colours of Nigeria, the new away kit is white with a green stripe that runs the length of the sides of shirt and shorts, and a green stripe along the back of the collar.”

The federation revealed that the Nike Dri-FIT technology draws sweat away from the body to the exterior of the shirts and shorts, where it quickly evaporates, adding, “this allows players to perform at their best by remaining cooler, drier and more comfortable.

“The laser-cut ventilation holes and mesh panels in the key areas of the kit are designed to improve performance by increasing air circulation and helping regulate players’ temperatures. “The shirt is crafted using mesh fabric that makes up the full front and back panels of the shirt, increasing airflow and facilitating enhanced movement.”