Nike Explores Nigeria's Football Culture In 'This is Naiji'
A 19-minute documentary on one of this year’s fan-favorite World Cup teams.
Just a few hours before Nigeria routed Iceland 2-0 courtesy of Musa’s two incredible goals, the team’s sponsor, Nike, premiered the documentary This is Naija: A Nigerian Football Story. The near-19-minute film explores the African nation’s rich football culture with interviews from players past and present, including Segun Odegbami of the 1980 Nigerian Africa Cup team as well as current players Odion Ighalo and Wilfred Ndidi.
“Football serves as a universal language in Nigeria, the connective tissue that unifies the land and drives the spirit, belief and energy of the nation,” said Nike in a statement accompanying the film. “Football provides a rhythm for daily life in the streets, the clubs, the markets and on the pitch, from the energy and chaos of Lagos to the wooded savannas of Abeokuta.”
Enjoy the Andrew Dosunmu-directed documentary above, then be sure to tune into Nigeria’s final first round match against Argentina on Tuesday, June 26, at 2 p.m. ET. For more on the current tournament, here’s our favorite memes from the first week of the 2018 World Cup.
