Former Chelsea academy product and Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has turned heads as he rocks Super Eagles classic jersey, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nottingham Forest star was spotted wearing a retro Nigeria jersey famously associated with Nwankwo Kanu’s jersey number 4.
This, undoubtedly, sparked a nostalgic feeling among the Nigerian football fans and revived conversations about one of the most iconic shirts in Super Eagles history.
Ola Aina designs his own Sokito boot for AFCON. pic.twitter.com/zFjEjXnW9Z
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Aina donned the vintage kit while unveiling his limited-edition Sokito “Mr Lulu” boots which blend of past and present.
Ola Aina: Ex-Chelsea star rocks Kanu’s iconic Super Eagles jersey
In a recent photo shoot linked to the release of his Sokito “Mr Lulu” boot collaboration, Ola Aina appeared in the beloved Super Eagles jersey worn during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
His choice of jersey wasn’t accidental, however. Aina has always embraced his Nigerian roots and it is suggested that Kanu is among the past generations of Super Eagles stars who inspired him.
What makes the classic Kanu-era jersey special?
The jersey Aina wore stands out as one of Nigeria’s most memorable designs, largely because of its distinct colour palette and historical relevance.
Introduced for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, the kit marked Nike’s final design for Nigeria before their partnership restarted 16 years later in 2018.
What set it apart was the bold shift to a lighter, mint-green tone which was a departure from the deeper greens of earlier kits.
Historically, the jersey came at an important moment for Nigeria. The Super Eagles entered the 2002 World Cup after back-to-back strong AFCON finishes. Though the campaign ended in a disappointing group-stage exit.
Two decades later, Ola Aina wear it again to revive the jersey’s legendary status.