https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkSa4wV5uAA

Black Arrow FC have linked up with AS Roma and COPA90 for a short documentary touching on the power of football to unite cultures titled 'Naija to Rome'.

The documentary stems from AS Roma's remarkable Champions League victory against Barcelona back in 2018. Having lost the first leg 4-1, Roma needed a three goal victory to progress to the semi-finals. It was a result deemed impossible by many but Roma completed the mission and sent shockwaves across the footballing world.

One person who had their voice heard in the aftermath was Nigerian radio host Mark Otabor, whose energetic commentary went viral on Twitter and caught the attention of Roma's social media team. This moment started a chain of events which saw the Italian side and Nigeria become closer, including the club setting up a pidgin English account for Nigerian fans and Roma visibly supporting Nigeria during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Through a new partnership between Black Arrow FC and AS Roma, Mark receives a once in a lifetime opportunity to leave the African continent for the first time and attend a Roma match. Little does he know that the game he will attend is the final appearance of club and Serie A legend Daniele De Rossi, who had represented the club for 20 years.

The short film explores Mark's journey and the collision of footballing cultures within Nigeria and Roma.

In the documentary, Black Arrow founder Aaron Dolores, cinematographer Emmanuel Afolabi and editor Allan Mykitta bring their intimate and authentic approach to storytelling, while simultaneously giving audiences a front row seat to the streets of Lagos, the church bells of Vatican City, and the chants of Roma’s Curva Sud.

Black Arrow have a mission to focus on the intersection of soccer and black culture and do this throughout this piece by setting the film to an Afro-beats soundtrack with music exclusively from Nigerian rapper, Phyno.

Check out the full documentary now at the top of the page.