NFF warns firms against ambushing S’eagles, other national teams

THE Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) has through its marketing outfit, Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company, warned some firms to desist from ambushing the rights it granted its partners and sponsors or face legal action.

The NFF listed the rights as any promotional, advertising, marketing and other commercial exploitation rights and opportunities in relation to the football federation and the national football teams, including players’ image rights.

Specifically, the NFF named such firms as sports betting company, Bet9ja and Aiteo, an integrated energy company in Nigeria, as among organisations infringing on its products without legal authority.

Pamodzi, yesterday, said the “two companies, especially, and a few others have been trying to reap where they did not sow and have continued to associate their products and services with the Super Eagles, one of the properties of the NFF that its sponsors and partners have been granted exclusive rights to.”

According to Pamodzi Sports Marketing Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mike Itemuagbor: “The Super Eagles' impressive outing and the inherent potential showed at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d'ivoire of returning and even surpassing their best ever performance in the immediate future and leading to the 2025 AFCON and the 2026 FIFA World Cup have endeared them to Nigerians and corporate citizens have been identifying with the team.”

Itemuagbor said Bet9ja's activities around Super Eagles' participation at the AFCON 2023 aimed at raising their brand awareness without the sponsorship rights are unethical and unlawful.