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Victor Nwokolo’s exceptional design left Nigerians in awe after his design for the Nike x Super Eagles AFCON 2023 kit trended on social media.
This week, the internet was abuzz with excitement as a concept design for the Nike and Super Eagles AFCON 2023 kit went viral.
Behind this sensational creation is the talented designer, Victor Nwokolo, whose visionary approach captured the imaginations of Nigerian football enthusiasts and design aficionados alike.
What set Nwokolo’s concept apart was the fusion of traditional Nigerian elements with contemporary design aesthetics.
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18:16 - 28.12.2023
The Art of Afcon Kits: Celebrating the best jerseys in the history of Africa’s colourful tournament
As the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) gears up for a grand kickoff in Ivory Coast on January 13, it's not just the teams and the starting lineups that are drawing attention.
The concept Nike kit and AF1 sneakers seamlessly integrated the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria, drawing inspiration from indigenous art, patterns, and symbols.
The use of vibrant colours, such as green and white, paid homage to the national flag, while intricate details showcased the designer's meticulous attention to cultural authenticity.
The concept quickly went viral, garnering thousands of likes, shares, and comments across various platforms like Facebook, X, and even Instagram, leaving many Nigerians ecstatic about Nike’s potential kit for the Super Eagles ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2024.
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In an interview with Pulse Sports, the Abuja-based sensation revealed his viral idea for the Nigerian national team in advance of the team's January showcase in Cote d'Ivoire.
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14:20 - 28.12.2023
AFCON2023: Nigeria among top 5 nations with most tickets sold, CAF reveals
Nigeria's Super Eagles are looking to end a 10-year wait for another AFCON at the 2023 edition slated for Cote d'Ivoire.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
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My name is Chidubem Victor Nwokolo, I go by the Name VICKEY, I’m a graphic designer, illustrator and Apparel designer.
I'm a Computer Science graduate from Nile University, I also am a record producer (it was from production i got the name VICKEY).
I train in judo, kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts and I am based In Abuja, Nigeria.
Your sensational Nike x Super Eagles design just took the internet by storm! Can you give us a quick tour of the inspiration behind this viral concept?
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Funny story about it, I had made that design and pattern earlier in the year for a brand I designed for called Tribaletics.
So while we were making ideas for jerseys, it was one of them I made inspired by the 1996 jersey, but I wanted to put some originality to it, so I began playing about with geometric shapes, lines and colours.
So at the time it didn't make the final Designs that they [Tribaletics] chose to make, so towards the end of the year, a day or so before Christmas, I felt I should just try my hand at that idea….. let me look at it again with a fresh outlook and a few hours of work on illustrator and photoshop...I got the "holy grail".
What sparked the initial inspiration behind your creative endeavor?
For inspiration, I'd say the 1996 jersey.
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I was initially designing jersey ideas for Tribaletics, and the owner said I should look at that 1996 kit... at the time I made the patterns/design, but it was quite primitive and didn't "bang", like they say....
Exploring your impressive portfolio, you've crafted exciting concepts for Nigeria Professional Football League club kits. Is there a standout team that captivates your interest? If yes, which one and what makes them so intriguing to you?
The club that interests me most I'd say, would be Sporting Lagos.
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I like the aura the club brings and it's a club that many people especially the youth are getting behind, because for the longest time we as Nigerians have been very active followers of foreign leagues and teams, and I believe with good marketing, management and PROPER and beautiful Jersey design, we can bring new life into our league here in Nigeria.
One thing I know is that we're a fashion-savvy people, everywhere you go in the world, you know Nigeria by its people, creativity and its fashion, so I strive to infuse fashion and football, and that infusion is the foremost thing on my mind whenever I open my laptop to create anything.
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If you can check my Instagram, I have designed something for Sporting Lagos too.
I made illustrations of various Lagos landmarks and infused [them] into the kit.
How long did it take you to complete the Nike x Super Eagles AFCON concept kit?
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This is a 2-parter. The design was made earlier in the year [the pattern] but I didn't make into the jersey design that has gone viral until December 23rd, so if your question is how long it took me to make the designs in one sitting, when I combine the time I made the the pattern and then combine it with when I put it all together, it took 4 hours 18 minutes.
But between those 4 hours+, there was a 5 month gap.
Meanwhile, I can as well design kits in hours or less, I work and move as inspiration directs me.
Hmmm… That’s brilliant. Alright, now that your design has set the internet on fire and Nigerians are absolutely loving it, what's the next big move in your playbook?
The plan ??? The plan is to go full steam like I have been doing since I started this journey of kit design.
2024, by God's grace, I'm still going to design and promote and post my work aggressively.
I hope I get a gig for a Nigerian Premier league club.
My dream is to design an official kit for the National team and design kits for 10 teams in the NPFL, work with the likes of Adidas, Nike, Puma...etc,
I have so much in mind to do and so much on ground that's about to come out, so definitely you'll either see my work and most likely you'd be wearing it.
That’s Super cool. So, who would you say is your favourite Nigerian footballer of all time?
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This Is a hard question I won't lie(laughs), we have had so many great players play for the National team, but my most outstanding has to be between Vincent Enyeama and Mikel Obi.
Yeah, I'm torn between both, as they were exceptional in their respective positions on the field.
In conclusion, Victor Nwokolo’s Nike x Super Eagles AFCON 2023 Kit concept serves as a testament to the transformative power of design in the world of sports.
It not only captured the essence of Nigerian heritage but also ignited a widespread conversation about the significance of cultural representation in sports aesthetics.
As we eagerly await the official kit reveal, Nwokolo’s visionary approach has already left quite a mark on the intersection of sports and design.
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