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.
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