Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has revealed why the CEO of Puma blacklisted Nigeria during an interview with former Super Eagles midfielder and captain, Sunday Oliseh.
In the video shared by Oliseh on his X account, Pinnick said the Puma boss blacklisted Nigeria because of a previous encounter with three Nigerians. He said when he first met the man, not even as NFF president at the time, the executive initially declined to speak with him and requested that they meet the following day.
According to Pinnick, during their subsequent discussion, the Puma executive explained that his decision to cut ties with Nigerians stemmed from a previous encounter with three Nigerians who had visited his home on Christmas Day and promised to help him secure the Nigerian kit deal from Adidas.
Pinnick said the men told the executive they could abandon an existing Adidas contract but had their own demands. He said the Puma boss subsequently vowed never to do business with Nigerians again and told him he had blacklisted Nigeria.
Amaju Pinnick served as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for exactly eight years, from September 30, 2014, to September 30, 2022.
He became the first NFF President to be democratically re-elected for a consecutive second term in office. He was succeeded by Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who resigned from his position as NFF President on August 27, 2026.
Although Nigeria used Nike more prominently during Pinnick’s tenure, the Adidas contract was already winding down when he assumed office and officially ended in 2014. Rather than renewing the agreement with Adidas, Pinnick’s administration negotiated a new partnership with Nike, which was announced in April 2015.
Puma has not been a major kit supplier of the Nigerian national team. Adidas and Nike have been the prominent kit suppliers, with Adidas supplying Nigeria from 2004 to 2014 before Nike took over in 2015.
Nike had previously supplied Nigeria from 1994 to 2003 before Adidas returned in 2004. The Adidas partnership lasted until 2014 and included Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
Upcoming return of Adidas
recently, The Nigeria Football Federation has agreed a landmark $8.5 million-a-year deal with Adidas to become the official kit supplier once again, ending Nigeria’s 11-year relationship with Nike. The package reportedly includes $4.5 million in cash and $4 million worth of kits and equipment annually.
