Puma has terminated its contract with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), after a disagreement with the government’s Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development meant that AFN’s athletes at Tokyo 2020 did not appear in Puma kit. The AFN alleges that efforts were made to ship kit to its athletes through the Nigerian Embassy in Japan but that Sunday Dare, Minister for Sport, wrote to the Ambassador instructing him not to send them.

Dare argues that the AFN was at fault because the AFN didn’t have the required government approval for the Puma deal. He argues that it goes against President Muhammadu Buhari’s February 2018 Policy on Local Content (PDF link), which requires preference for Nigerian firms in sports contracts (see right).

The AFN argues that it signed the Puma deal in 2019, and local reports suggest that it was agreed in October 2019. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria, signed a deal for AFA Sports to supply Nigeria’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic delegation on 12 July this year, compromising the AFN’s prior agreement with Puma. 

However, it would appear that kits supplied by AFA Sports were inadequate for the needs of some AFN athletes. A video posted by Chuk Enekwechi on TikTok (since deleted, but available below) features the shot put finalist washing his only Nigeria shirt in the sink. A statement from Dare, published by the Premium Times, suggests that AFA Sports kit bags contained nine items, whereas the AFN’s statement (below) alleges that the Puma kit bags contained 40 items.

Dare argues that no complaints came to his notice until Enekwechi’s video ‘went viral’. He said that the AFN has been asked to provide a ‘detailed explanation about the kit’. 

‘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’, read Puma’s statement (see below). ‘PUMA especially declares to be discharged from any or all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against these entities and individuals’.

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

— Athletics Federation of Nigeria (@TheAFN_) August 4, 2021

‘Before any federation which is a component of Team Nigeria however wears any brand, it must refer to the Ministry and the NOC for clearance and approval’, read Dare’s published statement. ‘The Ministry and NOC must be fully aware of the contract details by the Federation to protect the rights and freedoms of the athletes and ensure Nigeria’s interests are protected. 

‘In this situation, the Ministry wishes to state that the contractual arrangement between AFN and Puma prior to the Olympic Games has generated a lot of controversy between the former President of the Federation and the former Board members. I will not want to go into too much details on this issue because it is sub judice. Suffice it to say that the Ministry was not part of the agreement. The TikTok video on the issue was an attempt to create a media frenzy to embarrass Nigeria.’

Article 13.1(c) of the World Athletics Constitution (click here to download) allows World Athletics to suspend a member federation if the government in that country acts in a manner contrary to the purposes of World Athletics (see right). In 2016, the Kenyan government risked action by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for government inference in sport, after it disbanded the Olympic Committee (NOCK) due to an argument that also involved kit supply.