THE Nigeria Football Federation has signed a partnership deal with fintech outfit Tingo for the sponsorship of the Federation Cup, the governing body has announced.
The agreement was signed today for the country’s oldest football competition, which used to be known as the Challenge Cup, then the FA Cup before its current label.
At a ceremony inside the NFF Secretariat in Abuja, the body’s president Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau declared that the first partnership of his administration had taken some months to seal because his team places premium on integrity and credibility of partnerships.
“We took our time to conduct due diligence on the company and we found them to be upright and credible. For us, it is about credibility and integrity. A number of corporates have approached us for partnerships but we are taking our time to evaluate things,” Gusau explained.
“I congratulate Tingo for their steadfastness to ensure the actualisation of this relationship. We believe it is the beginning of great things that will happen between the company and the NFF going forward.”
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, added that the federation is delighted to secure sponsorship for the country’s oldest and most glamorous cup competition, and would ensure that Tingo derives the appropriate mileage from the title sponsorship.
Chief Operating Officer of Tingo, Peter Owokolo, commended the NFF for the opportunity given to the company to engage Nigerian football at such a high level, and promised to explore areas of further positive contributions.
“We are honoured to be here and to be able to take the title sponsorship of such a prestigious competition as the Federation Cup. It is a privilege. We are committed to promoting and positively projecting Nigeria Football in every way we can,” he said.
The Federation Cup began as the Governor’s Cup in 1945 and became Federation Cup in 2008, when the Nigeria Football Association transformed to Nigeria Football Federation following the approval of its Congress in Makurdi, Benue State.
