2020 Olympics: Puma terminates contract with Nigeria following Olympic games embarrassment

Following the recent embarrassment at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 olympics, international fashion and sportswear brand PUMA has terminated its deal with Nigeria.

Recall we reported how Nigeria trended for all the wrong reasons after an athlete, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, shared a video on Instagram of himself washing his Olympic Jersey with the caption “When you made the olympic finals but have only one Jersey“

Many Nigerians questioned why an athlete would be granted only one jersey after seeing the post on social media.

Shehu Sani, a Kaduna central senator, revealed on Wednesday afternoon that PUMA had offered Nigeria free Olympic jerseys, but that the offer had been rejected by Nigerian officials.

According to reports, the Athletic Federation of Nigeria signed a controversial $2.7 million deal with Puma in Qatar in July 2019.

The agreement sparked a major controversy among the athletics community, dividing it into two camps. Gusau Ibrahim, the AFN’s head, signed the agreement, which was set to expire in 2022.

The contract stated that PUMA will provide Nigeria’s Athletics team with free jerseys and costumes for the next four years.

Gold medalists were to receive $15,000, silver medalists $5,000, and bronze medalists $3000 under the contract.

The contract was terminated by PUMA in a letter signed by Edlheimb Manuel, the brand’s director, on August 4, 2021. The contract was terminated, according to the letter, since Nigerian athletes did not wear the kits during the present Tokyo Olympics.

“We are referring to the licencing and sponsoring agreement signed between our company and your federation.”

“As a direct consequence of the recent developments, particularly at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and pursuant to clauses 9.2 and 7.3 of the Agreement, we hereby terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.”

“PUMA especially declares to be discharged from any or all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against these entities and individuals”, the letter read in part.