Nigeria’s bigger than Nike’s $750,000 a year deal, says Toro

Former Secretary General of the then Nigeria Football Association, Alhaji Ahmed Sani Toro has faulted the Nigeria Football Federation’s recent contract with American kit manufacturing company Nike, saying Nigeria is bigger than what it has got for a whole year.

Based on the contract signed on April 24 in London, Nigeria is going to receive $750,000 in 2015 and the remaining two years would fetch the country $1m each plus bonuses to be paid to the national teams whenever they qualify for any major international championship.

Toro a former commissioner of sports in Bauchi State told Daily Trust yesterday that the money Nigeria is getting from Nike is not commensurate with the value of the country’s national teams.

He said had it been the NFF dealt directly with Nike, it would have got a better deal.

Toro recalled that during his time in the NFA, Nigeria signed a deal with Nike but the agent who handled the contract did not act transparently thereby denying the country the real worth of the deal.

He also said apart from the issue of agent, he suspects that NFF signed the ‘miserable’ contract due to non availability of reputable kits manufacturing companies willing to do business with them.

“Well they must have their reasons for accepting the terms with Nike. This is not the first time Nigeria is having a contract with the American company.

“My problem is had the NFF gone directly to the company, they would have had a better deal. It would have been better than going through an agent.

“I remember when we had a contract with Nike, our agent could not account for all the money. Even when I left office, a lot of money was not accounted for. But if they have a reliable agent this time, that will be fine.

“Maybe they had problems getting a replacement for adidas. Otherwise, Nigeria is bigger than what Nike has agreed to pay,” he said.