Gusau Says NFF’s Adidas Deal Can Fund World-Class Eagles, Falcons Coaches

Posted : 28 August 2026

Former Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Gusau has said the federation's new Adidas sponsorship can help fund high-profile coaches for the Super Eagles and Super Falcons. Gusau made the claim while announcing details of the agreement during his resignation press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

The deal will reportedly provide the NFF with $4.5 million in cash every year. Adidas will also supply about $4 million worth of kits and equipment annually, taking the reported value of the package to $8.5 million.

Gusau said the partnership is expected to begin in September 2026. He explained that the contract had already been signed, even though the NFF had initially planned to make the agreement public at a later date.

The former NFF president said the agreement also contains a merchandise component. According to Gusau, the federation will receive 20 per cent from sales generated through Adidas' retail operations in Nigeria.

Adidas currently has about 13 outlets in Nigeria, according to Gusau. The sportswear company has also indicated plans to expand its retail network to about 32 outlets within two years, potentially increasing the commercial value of the partnership.

Gusau believes the additional revenue can directly support the national teams' coaching structures. “With this, the issue of paying the Super Eagles and Super Falcons coaches can be taken care of from this Adidas deal,” he said.

He added that the income would be enough for the federation to recruit high-profile coaches and pay them competitively. The claim comes as Nigeria faces pressure to improve the performances of its senior national teams after missing major upcoming international tournaments.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing their playoff final to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Super Falcons also missed the 2027 Women's World Cup after losing to South Africa, ending Nigeria's record of appearing at every edition since the women's tournament began in 1991.

The new Adidas agreement will replace the NFF's long-running relationship with Nike. Gusau criticised the previous arrangement, saying its financial terms had remained unchanged for years despite the rising cost of running Nigeria's national teams.

Reports put the previous Nike arrangement at $500,000 in annual cash payments and about $1 million in kits. Gusau argued that the value had become inadequate because of inflation, currency depreciation and the increasing demands on the federation.

The Adidas agreement therefore represents a major commercial increase for the NFF. However, the federation is now facing a leadership transition after Gusau resigned alongside General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the Executive Committee on Thursday.

Gusau Says NFF’s Adidas Deal Can Fund World-Class Eagles, Falcons Coaches

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