Covid and social distancing 👤✖️👤enforcement hasn't stopped football fans crowding viewing centers across Nigeria to watch and to support their favorite European teams. And we have seen such a dramatic change in fans demand for their favorite football shirts at the Jersey Market behind mandalas Lagos Island.
Of course, we all know that the Jersey Market behind Mandalas in Lagos Island is the major merchants depot, from where the sportswears are distributed across the country. So our survey with the major dealers in that market showed the trends, and how the jerseys are selling in the market.
Chelsea and Arsenal has the largest number of fans in Nigeria respectively and it is usual that the demand for their shirt went high at the beginning of the 2020/21season. Although, Super Eagles hasn't engaged in any major competitions, but the launch of a new Jersey at the close 2019 may have inspired lot of fans to purchase the Nigeria national team shirt for loyalty sake.
Well, recently, Super Falcons won the Turkish women's cup in grand style and that also may have fueled the demand for the national team shirt across Nigeria.
As it is now in market, as the 2020/21 season is gradually getting to the climax in the top five European leagues and the UEFA Champions League, we observed that these jerseys are still in such a high demand
1 Liverpool Home Shirt has been the highest selling football shirt in Nigeria market this year, since the start of the 2020/21 season, the red and white stripes Nike wear has been selling to the point that the jersey is always scarce in the market. No matter how many more were imported, it finishes in just days.
I think the African connection of Mohammed Salah and Sadiq Mane is still working despite Liverpool struggling to renact such superior form this season, the fans are still buying the shirt.
I also think Nigeria fans currently favors Nike branded shirts being that the American sportswear company partners with the Nigeria national team.
2. Manchester United Away Shirt. The controversial white and black stripes shirt is currently selling like hot cake right now in the market and have jumped to the second highest selling jersey.
Not too sure what may have prompted the demand. But some dealers we spoke to us in market said the jersey look so different and unique from the usual Manchester United jersey. Even none Man-U fans and those who had previously bought the Man-U home shirt has return to buy this new white on black stripes shirt.
3. Arsenal Home Shirt is usually one of the highest selling jerseys in Nigeria each year, because "the Gunners" has perhaps, the second largest number of fans in Nigeria.
However, the aesthetics of this season design may have been the reason more of arsenal fans are still purchasing the shirt. And today, it is the second highest selling jersey in the Market. Some dealers said even none active fans are buying the Arsenal jersey just for casual wear.
4. Chelsea Home and Away shirts are still selling at the same proportion in the market and combination of two, placed Chelsea shirts as the 4th highest selling jersey this year. The blue and black stripes home shirt as well as light blue on Navy blue stripe with number 3 branded in front of the jersey.
Chelsea arguably has the largest number of fans in Nigeria, so it is no wonder their shirt are one of the highest selling shirt in Nigeria.
5. Barcelona Home Shirt is usually among the first two highest selling shirts each year, but dropped a little bit this year. Many dealers attributed it to the conflict between the team and their star player, Lionel Messi.
Barcelona struggle has even deepen this season. A lot of Barcelona's casual fans are not that inspired to buy the teams replica jersey this year. But as you know, Barcelona has a lot loyal and die-die-hard supporters in Nigeria.
6. Nigeria National team Home shirt took a leap in the market to be the 6th highest selling jersey this year, despite the fact that Nigeria hasn't played in any major competition this year. Though, the sales can't in anyway compare to the Nigeria 2018 world cup jersey, but I as write, the white green and black stripes jersey is selling stead.
7. Borussia Dortmund Home Shirt is another beautifully designed yellow and black stripes. You may say Dortmund doesn't really have that much fans in Nigeria, but the aesthetics of the shirt has cause a lot football fans to buy it and to make 7th highest Selling jersey in the market.
8. PSG Home and Away shirts are selling in the same proportion. The Navy blue white and red stripes home shirt and the white Navy blue and red stripes away shirts are very well designed to give attention to anyone on streets.
Well, PSG has quite a substantial number of fans in Nigeria and that may be the reason it became the 8th highest selling jersey in the market.
9. Manchester United Home Shirt is one of the highest selling jerseys at the beginning of the season, but the red and white adidas stripes may have slowed down as the team's Away shirt took more attention and became center stage in the market.
Of course, Man-U has the 3rd highest number of fans in Nigeria and this year we have seen the team go to the top of the Premier League standing at a stage that got many of its fans excited.
10. Inter Milan Home shirt is the 10th highest selling jersey in the market. Dealers also attributed high rate of sales due to the aesthetic design of the shirt. Yeah, Inter Milan gained substantial number of fans during the days of Nwankwo KANU and Obafemi Martins. The team is also doing well in Italian Serial A.
