Why Sportswear Giants Adidas, Puma Dumped Nigeria — Pinnick

Former Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has explained why sportswear giants Adidas and Puma severed their commercial relationships with Nigerian football, alleging that actions by some Nigerians contributed to the breakdown.

Pinnick made the disclosure during an interview with former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh on a programme examining controversies surrounding Nigerian football administration.

He recalled that Adidas had indicated its intention to end its relationship with the NFF shortly after he became federation president. The decision, he said, surprised him so much that he travelled to Zurich to meet the company’s president in an attempt to convince the sportswear giant to reconsider.

According to Pinnick, his efforts were unsuccessful, although he later discovered that several issues had influenced Adidas’ decision to leave. He declined to disclose some of the details publicly, saying he did not want to indict individuals.

Pinnick said the sponsorship crisis affected other major companies at the time, with several businesses either ending their relationships with Nigerian football or indicating that they intended to withdraw.

He subsequently attempted to establish a relationship with Puma but said he encountered resistance from the company’s top executive during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

Pinnick said the Puma executive initially refused to engage with him after learning that he was Nigerian. The executive eventually explained his reservations and reportedly recounted an incident involving three Nigerians who had visited his home on Christmas Day.

According to Pinnick, the three Nigerians allegedly told the executive that they could abandon an existing Adidas contract but attached certain demands to the proposal.

Pinnick said the incident influenced the executive’s perception of Nigeria and ultimately led him to decide that he would no longer have dealings with the country. He claimed the executive effectively blacklisted Nigeria.

The former NFF president did not identify the three Nigerians or disclose the demands they allegedly made. His account represents his recollection of the circumstances surrounding Puma’s position.

Despite losing both major sportswear companies, Pinnick said the setbacks strengthened his determination to secure another international kit sponsor for the Super Eagles.

He travelled to the United States and the Netherlands while pursuing potential partners and eventually secured Nike as Nigeria’s kit sponsor.

Pinnick also rejected claims that his administration presided over a decline in commercial sponsorship, arguing that he increased the NFF’s commercial revenue and moved the federation towards greater self-funding.

He said his administration’s financial performance could be verified through the federation’s audited accounts.

Pinnick’s revelations come amid renewed debate over the management, financing and commercial development of Nigerian football following Ibrahim Gusau’s resignation as NFF president.

The former NFF boss maintained that securing strong commercial partnerships remained essential to building a financially sustainable football administration in Nigeria.