5th December, 2014
German kit manufacturers Adidas has decided not to renew its deal with Nigeria and the Super Eagles.
Futaa.com reports early today that in August, Adidas had written to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, notifying them of their decision not to renew the current contract, which expires this month.
The global merchandise outfit signed a new contract with the NFF on March 6, 2010 and did not state specific reason for pulling out.
Aside this, Adidas also complained that Nigeria’s coach and some players violated contractual obligations by wearing a rival’s kit at major events. With Adidas not renew the contract, Nigeria has lost a deal worth $7m-a-year, which will increase the problems for the cash-strapped national teams. The NFF admitted finding a new sponsor is proving hard.
The Super Eagles have endured a difficult year, with problems both on and off the pitch damaging their reputation and their results.
As well as being penalised with by a global ban by FIFA for government interference in football matters, Nigeria failed to qualify to defend their Africa Cup of Nations title at next year’s finals in Equatorial Guinea.
And a top official of the NFF told BBC Sport that major sportswear companies are not interested in becoming the country’s new kit supplier.
But NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire says the body is negotiating with other manufacturers or may still salvage a deal with Adidas.
“We are currently in discussions with multiple parties regarding our kit situation,” Olajire told BBC Sport recently.
Adidas became the country’s supplier before the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, which Nigeria won, and at their maiden appearance at the World Cup in 1994. Nigeria switched to rivals Nike later that year then reunited with Adidas in 2004.