Nigeria 6

 

Unknown Player
vs. Kenya (3:0) | World Cup Qualifier | 1997 in Nigeria

At the World Cups in 1994 and 1998, Nigeria topped their group twice, despite featuring Argentina and Spain, respectively, and went out in the first knock out stage. At that time, the Super Eagles were arguably at their peak, playing beautiful football and being able to beat literally any opponent. For both World Cups, however, they were very differently dressed: While Nigeria wore an absolute Adidas design classic for the 1994 World Cup in the US, the team returned to France in 1998 in a pretty boring and non-saying green Nike shirt.

Between these two tournaments, however, Nigeria got this shirt from Nike. In my opinion, it is one of the best designs we have seen in international football, globally. It still is relatively unknown, as it was never worn on the biggest, the global, stage. On the other hand, it is known enough for its design to score very decent prices on second hand platform like eBay. I had to fight myself for years, but ultimately paid 80€ for this replica, which is definitely legit and thus pretty rare. I just had to get this beauty for my collection.

Nigeria 5

 

Unknown Player
vs. Benin (1:0) | AFCON Qualifier | 2021 in Ivory Coast

After a long range of very basic Adidas and Nike shirts, Nigeria finally got an absolute banger of a shirt in 2018 - one that wrote headlines globally, actually. I was always keen on getting it, but it was quickly sold out globally and ever since, the market is absolute flood with fakes, making it hard to find a legit one until today.

Luckily, Nike got mental again in 2020, when they presented the next shirt for Nigeria. While it does look much more like a bobsled kit rather than a football shirt, it is definitely special and sticks out of every collection. Unlike with the 2018, I just bought this briefly after release, although that set me back 80 quid. I just didn't want to miss out once again - and I am happy I did splurge on this one, indeed.

Nigeria 4

 

Abdul Jeleel Ajagun (Dolphin FC)
vs. Portugal (2:3) | U20 World Cup | 2013 in Turkey

This is a bit of a curious one. It was sold as a matchworn shirt and does feature the tournament patch of the 2013 U20 World Cup in Turkey on the right arm and definitely has all the features a player shirt should have. But it has the wrong name on it. The #3 was worn by Kingsley Madu in said tournament, not by anyone named Chata. Indeed, I was unable to find any Nigerian player named Chata, at all. The only explanation I could come up with is that this shirt was possibly a memory for Usman Abubakar Chata, the kitsman of the Nigerian national team. I am not certain that he was in Turkey in 2013, but he definitely was working as a kitsman for the FA later, so that might explain that.

Either way, I am happy to add this new shirt to the collection. While it is not spectacular, it just is an absolute classic and does actually work well with names and numbers. I loke the collar a lot and it just is a very nice fabric, too. So whatever this actually is, I am pleased that I got it for around 40€ in the end.

Sao Tome and Principe 4 & 5

 

Unknown Player
vs. South Africa (2:4) | AFCON Qualifier | 2020 in Sao Tome and Principe

Unknown Player
vs. South Africa (0:2) | AFCON Qualifier | 2020 in South Africa

Sao Tome and Principe shirts are usually quirky, wild, bursting with colours and rare to get. This one is none of that. I could get it on the Lacatoni page for about 30€ each and it is as dull as Sao Tome and Principe shirts could possibly get. To be frank, the only reason I got them is that I made a larger order at Lacatoni and simply couldn't skip Sao Tome and Principe, given how rare they usually are.

Senegal 7

 

Boulaye Dia (Villarreal CF | ESP)
vs. Guinea (0:0) | AFCON | 2022 in Cameroon

2022 Senegal won the AFCON - and even to my surprise, it was the first time they ever did. On the way to that title, the team wore this beautiful Puma shirt that features a subtle pattern, designed by Senegalese artists, all over the front. That shirt, along with the whole 2022 series of Puma, is an absolute favourite of mine and thus I just had to get it, even if it did set me back 60€ish, IIRC. When Senegal went all the way to lift one of the biggest trophies in football in this shirt, it just got even better for me, my collection, but mostly for every Senegalese football fan out there.

Senegal 6

 

Khalilou Fadiga (AJ Auxerre | FRA)
vs. France (1:0) | World Cup | 2002 in South Korea

In 2002, Senegal qualified for a World Cup for the first time, traveling all the way to South Korea for their opening match vs. the reigning World Champion France. A special match, for sure, given that the entire Senegalese squad played in the French league back then, apart from the second and third keepers. It was meant to be a complete mismatch, in which Senegal would have no chance, really. But then one of the biggest miracles in World Cup history happened - they beat the French and made it out of the group after draws vs. Denmark and Uruguay, while France went home winless in the end. They went further by beating Sweden in extra time, only to lose to Turkey in the Quarter Final, again on extra time. What remained was one of the most remarkable World Cup runs of an African team ever.

I was a little boy when this opening match happened. Aged 15, I was certain that the French team around Zidane, one of the biggest stars of my childhood, will walk at least to the final again. But I quickly turned into a Senegal fan over the course of the tournament, admiring El Hadji Douf, in particular. 

Of course, I was always keen on getting the Senegalese shirt that stood for this history - and I finally did, although having to pay 80€ for this replica. I totally love the shirt and do wear it quite often with pride - a perfect memory of one of the first World Cups I truly and entirely followed.

Senegal 5

 

Mamadou Niang (Al-Sadd SC | QAT)
vs. Libya (1:2) | AFCON | 2012 in Equatorial Guinea

For Senegal, the 2012 AFCON was an absolute nightmare. They came to the tournament in Equatorial Guinea as one of the favourites, with players like Demba Ba or Papiss Demba Cissé in their absolute prime, and went home losing all three group matches - against the underdogs of Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Zambia. It was really a disaster for them and as a result, they quickly threw away their shirts following the tournament and got a new design.

As a result, this shirt was a bit forgotten, despite it being actually quite nice, in my opinion. It is relatively simple and just another template that Puma threw at them - but thanks to the colour combination, it actually does work well for me. So when I had the chance to grab it for around 30€, I just took my chance and am happy I did.