Every year Nigeria takes a walk down memory lane in commemoration of her freedom from the shackles of the colonial masters. This year carries a deeper meaning as sixty years of independence, growth and oneness is no joke. This is why we are inspired to take you back to some historic moments in sports - our own little quota to the country’s success.
It was three weeks to the 2017 Afro basketball championship in Mali when AFA Sports was approached with the request to kit the Nigeria Women’s National Basketball Team. Out of our pledge to the development of Nigeria and our faith in the team, we committed to the cause despite having no prior interest to explore the female basketball landscape. This followed days of intense planning, designing and creation on an uncommon scale with limited timeline.
The culmination of that hard work were the Games themselves in that unforgettable event of 2017. Nigeria climbed from fifth to the first position, winning for the first time in twelve years, a showcase not only of Nigerian sporting talent but also of AFA Sports’ expertise and dedication.
Though we had limited time, we were determined to provide the best products that Nigerians can proudly relate with and give the team a competitive advantage in Mali. Here then was a unique opportunity to use the Games as a catalyst for genuine and lasting change.
In 2018, we became the first ever African sportswear company to feature in a major international tournament as the proud kit sponsor of D’Tigress. It was the country’s first tournament appearance since 2006 where they finished last, and despite qualifying for it after the Afrobasket win, Nigeria ranked extremely low amongst 16 participating teams. Notwithstanding, we joined the team in making history with a clinch of the first position at the FIBA Women World Cup in Spain.
Our broad base of support also spanned towards Nigeria Men’s National Basketball Team, D’Tigers on their journey to Tunisia for the Afrobasket Championship in 2017.
Then there was the unforgettable moment that Nigeria’s Para-Powerlifting Team shined bright during the 2019 world Para-Powerlifting championship in Astana with Loveline Obiji clinching the silver medal. They were decorated in the AFA panel tracksuit, another sponsorship that was more than the provision of kits. It was inspired by our desire for inclusivity and the need to reiterate commitment to building a level playing field for the African populace.
AFA Sports’ investment in sport reflects our belief in its power to create lasting change. These sponsorships that have powered the performance of Nigerian players have become a monumental part of Nigeria’s journey that began in 1960 and it is our legacy, one shaped and shared by the good people and great nation of Nigeria.