Counterfeiters capitalise on run on Nigeria world cup shirts

With World Cup fever gathering pace, Nigeria’s snazzy strip is proving remarkably popular for fans – leading to a stock-out that is presenting an opportunity for counterfeiters.

The official producer of the replica Super Eagle shirts – sportswear giant Nike – says that it ran out of stock ahead of the weekend in the face of massive demand for the strip both in Nigeria and among Nigeria’s sizeable diaspora around the world.

Incredibly, the strip sold out in minutes on the first day it became available on June 1, reportedly due to pent up demand resulting from a decision to launch the kit later than usual – ironically in an attempt to thwart counterfeiters. In Nigeria and the UK, there were queues around the block at Nike stores.

There have been numerous reports of counterfeit Nigeria replica shorts being available for sale well ahead of the official launch, and a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in March pointed out that “everything currently being advertised and sold now is fake.”