Gusau quits NFF Presidency, unveils $8.5m Adidas deal

By Johnson Arua

Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, President Ibrahim Gusau has announced his resignation from office, rounding off his tenure with the unveiling of a multi-million-dollar kit sponsorship deal with global sportswear giant Adidas.

Gusau made the disclosure at a press conference in Abuja attended by football administrators, state Football Association chairmen, club owners and media executives.

The landmark Adidas agreement, which ends Nigeria’s long-standing relationship with Nike, will provide the NFF with $4.5 million in annual cash sponsorship and another $4 million worth of sportswear, equipment and match kits every year.

The deal also guarantees the federation a 20 percent royalty on official merchandise sold through Adidas retail outlets in Nigeria. The company’s retail network is expected to increase from 13 to 32 outlets within the next three years.

Gusau said the switch from Nike was driven largely by economic realities and the need to secure better commercial terms for Nigerian football. He explained that the previous 11-year Nike contract, which provided $500,000 cash and $1 million worth of equipment annually, had become grossly inadequate due to inflation and fluctuations in the naira-dollar exchange rate.

“When we came on board in 2022, the dollar was trading around 400 and something. In 2024, it started running at 1,400,” he said, adding that the value of the fixed Nike agreement had been severely eroded.

Gusau said the NFF was often compelled to use its limited domestic funds to purchase additional kits for national youth and women’s teams because the annual allocation from Nike could no longer meet its needs.

According to him, negotiations with Nike, which began in 2024, failed to produce an acceptable improved offer. Although Nike had matching rights under the existing agreement, it was unable to match Adidas’ proposal when the offer was presented.

The NFF president said the new financial arrangement would also enable the federation to address one of its major challenges—the engagement of high-profile coaches for the Super Eagles and Super Falcons.

“This money will be enough for the NFF to hire high-profile coaches, and we have the resources to take care of that,” Gusau said.

Reflecting on his three-year, 11-month tenure, Gusau said his administration had recorded significant reforms in coaching development, league administration, refereeing and football infrastructure.

He announced the revival of the CAF ‘A’ Licence coaching course, scheduled to commence on September 16, after an eight-year hiatus. The development follows the completion of CAF B, C and Instructors’ certification programmes.

On the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Gusau said the federation had restored credibility through improved scheduling, transparent fixtures and greater competitive balance.

“Before now, no journalist could say when our league would start or end. Last season, we started on the agreed date and ended on the agreed date, with the champion decided at the very last minute of the final fixtures,” he said.

He added that the NFF deliberately promoted young refereeing talents into continental competitions to address Nigeria’s declining representation among top-level international officials, resulting in assignments at the U-17 AFCON and Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Gusau also disclosed that the federation was using four-year FIFA Forward development funds to construct a modern match computer centre and accommodation facilities in Bauchi, expected to be completed by March next year.

The project, he said, would reduce the billions of naira spent annually on private hotel accommodation during national team camping.

Gusau, who is a trained accountant with 35 years of civil service experience, thanked Nigerians for the opportunity to serve as NFF president, President of WAFU Zone B and a member of the CAF Executive Committee.

“Everywhere you see: Gusau, Gusau, Gusau. My name has even been more pronounced than the name of Donald Trump!” he joked, acknowledging the intense public and media scrutiny that came with the office.

“I thank God for the opportunity given to me to serve my country as President of the NFF, as President of WAFU B, and on the CAF Executive Committee. Going forward, I know the future of Nigerian football will be great,” he said.