The Nigeria Football Federation has signed a contract extension with global leading sportswear company, NIKE, in Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday.
The marriage between the Nigeria Football Federation and American kit company began in April 2015 and the latest deal isbelieved to be for four year ,with an option of further renewal that will take the partnership to the end FIFA World Cup finals in 2026.
While speaking at the event, The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick said the Federation is happy with the new deal which has been on table after Nigeria qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“We were coming from a weak position but they made the agreement flexible for us. Today, we are happy we teamed up with NIKE because after we qualified and participated at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, the company was the one chasing us for a new improved contract,”
NFF 2nd Vice President, Mallam Shehu Dikko said NIKE’s decision to continued the agreement with Nigerian Football Federation is an encouragement that the football is going in the right direction in the country.
“They never stopped believing in us and in our teams, and after they conducted their due diligence on everyone involved in the running of the NFF, they were very eager to sign this new deal as far back as when we returned from the World Cup in Russia. But we kept telling them to give us some time.
“We are very happy because this new agreement comes with good money on annual basis, more supplies, improved qualification bonus for our teams, door-to-door delivery of kits, royalty for the NFF on jerseys sold and it has now been expanded to include our women national teams.”
“We have a window for renewal of this contract in 2023 but most terms of the agreement as presently constituted would improve should the Super Eagles make a huge impact at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Dikko, also stressed that the agreement , includes jerseys for all Nigeria National teams and new kits will be designed for the country before 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo.
“This contract brings a huge sigh of relief. Now, we do not have to worry about clearing kits at the ports because NIKE now has that responsibility to bring it to our door.
All the National Teams are now captured, we earn money on number of jerseys sold and a new kit will be designed for Nigeria prior to the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo,” Dikko added.
Tina Salminen, NIKE’s Sports Marketing Director (African Football), added that the company was delighted to have agreed the new contract with the NFF because of the huge success of the Super Eagles 2018 World Cup outfits.
“NIKE is very, very happy with its relationship with Nigeria. The jersey we designed for Nigeria for the FIFA World Cup won the award as for Best Designed Jersey and was hugely popular.
It has remained a source of reference in NIKE meetings and events ever since.
“Nigeria is one of the big teams in world football and we are happy to get them to sign a long term contract.” she concluded.
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