NFF, Nike sign kit deal

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced a new partnership deal with Nike.

The renowned American brand will now be designing and developing football kits for the men’s and women’s national football teams from April 1, 2015, until at least 2018.

Amaju Pinnick, president of NFF, expressed confidence that the kit sponsorship agreement the federation signed with Nike in London on Thursday will open more doors for Nigeria football in the area of sponsorship.

“I am thoroughly convinced that this agreement is the beginning of good and great things to happen to Nigeria football with regards to sponsorship deals,” he said.

“The NFF is happy to come into partnership with a leading global brand like Nike. We are in good company.”

Pinnick also said that there will be even more glorious moments for Nigeria football in the coming years than during Nike’s first partnership with the NFF between 1994 and 2003.

“During those years, Nigeria won a first-ever Olympics football gold (1996) and reached the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup (1998). But I have no doubts whatsoever that this second coming of Nike into Nigeria football will bring even more joyous moments with plenty of laurels for the national teams.

“Nigeria football has excellent potential all around and a top global brand like Nike will help to spur the processes that the present NFF administration has put in place to drive our game to the next level.”

Nike’s general manager, Laurent Payre, was also pleased with the deal.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Nigeria Football Federation, one of Africa’s premier teams,” he said.

“The passion for football in Nigeria is renowned and Nike is committed to supporting and advancing the game at all levels through inspiration and innovation for young men and women.”

The partnership includes the following elements: supplying performance and training kits to all nine of the NFF teams at every level, including the men’s and women’s senior teams, men’s and women’s under-20 teams, men’s and women’s under-17 teams, men’s and women’s Olympic teams, and the men’s beach football team.

Nigeria now joins Nike’s portfolio of federation sponsorships including Australia, Brazil, England, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, and the USA.

The under-20 men’s team will be the first team to don the new Nike kit at the U-20 football tourney to be hosted in New Zealand from May 31.