Adidas Terminates Contract With NFF

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.

The letter which was obtained by The PUNCH correspondents read,
"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.

PUNCH