Kit manufacturer and partner of the Nigeria Football Federation, Adidas, has written to the NFF intimating the Nigerian federation of its decision not to renew the current contract.
The letter, which was addressed to the federation and dated August 12, 2014 ,was signed by two officials of the company with corporate headquarters in Germany. The document was signed by the VP Global Sports Marketing Football, Claus-Peter Mayer and the Marketing Manager Federations and Leagues, Kai-Philipp Stief. Continue....
“Adidas has conducted an analysis of its football partnerships and related businesses. Based on this evaluation and in combination with the recent correspondence between the parties, we regret to inform that adidas has decided not to extend its partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation as per the end of the Agreement (i.e 31 December 2014).
“Adidas will continue to fulfil its obligations under the agreement as previously communicated and respectfully requests the Nigeria Football Federation to do the same for the remainder of the contract period (including the obligation to share any third party offer pursuant to Adidas’ right of first refusal).”
The implication is that the NFF will have to search for another global brand for the national teams. Adidas was their partner when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia and when the country first featured at the FIFA World Cup, USA ’94. Nigeria switched to rivals Nike when both parties separated. The Nigeria federation and Adidas became partners again following the new contract signed on March 6, 2010.
The first mention of the termination came just as the 2014 World Cup was ending as the NFF board was sacked by the sports minister Tammy Danagogo following a court ruling in Jos. Then it was said that the global brand was reacting to the confusion in the Nigerian football scene. The termination decision was quickly denied.
Adidas did not state their specific reason for pulling out but the situation in the Nigerian federation has since degenerated to the lowest ebb since the World Cup ended with the president, Aliyu Maigari, announced as impeached by the board. This was later followed by another suspension of two other members seen as loyalists of Maigari. Followers of the game believe the decision of the German company could be related to the uncertainty surrounding the country’s football administration.
The world football governing body FIFA on Thursday stepped in again into the Nigerian crisis and asked that Maigari should be reinstated as the president of the federation. He will preside over the August 26 general election of the federation.
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