Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has become the first African football body to enter into partnership with Italian Serie A team, AS Roma.
The three years partnership deal will ensure that Roma and the NFF collaborate together on and off the pitch, with one long term objective being for the club to play an exhibition match in the country.
The collaboration also entails that the NFF and the Italian club would work together on a several projects, including football, business, and media. AS Roma would offer the NFF technical and operation support and advice in youth coaching, player development and football administration.
Remarked the NFF President Amaju Pinnick, “We are excited about this unique partnership with AS Roma, we have put in a lot of work to move our federation into a globally recognised space and the fact that Roma chose to partner with Nigeria over any other federation in Africa is an indicator of how much respect our brand and this country has in the world of international football.”
“This formal partnership is the natural evolution of the great relationship between the NFF and Roma that began when Roma announced that with Italy absent from the 2018 World Cup, we would be supporting Nigeria,” says Paul Rogers, Head of Strategy at Roma. “Roma’s digital team began working with the Super Eagles in 2018 on their social media coverage of the World Cup and earlier this year, we again worked with Nigeria during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Continuing, Rogers said, ”through our unique use of social media, and initially using the hashtag #ForzaSuperEagles, we’ve developed an incredible and fun rapport with Nigerian football fans, media and celebrities.”
Roger disclosed that, Roma’s President, Jim Pallotta “has made no secret of his wish to see Roma play a match in Nigeria as a thank you to the Nigerian fans for the support they have shown us and it would be great if through this partnership, we can make that happen.”
Super Eagles fans all over the world took to the Italian club last Summer after it announced it was backing the Super Eagles at the World Cup. In March this year, the club cemented its love for the Eagles by launching a pidgin Twitter dedicated to the team. The Nigerian trio of Umar Sadiq, Adewale Wahab and Akande Ajide are currently on the book of AS Roma.
The collaboration also entails that the NFF and the Italian club would work together on a several projects, including football, business, and media. AS Roma would offer the NFF technical and operation support and advice in youth coaching, player development and football administration.
Remarked the NFF President Amaju Pinnick, “We are excited about this unique partnership with AS Roma, we have put in a lot of work to move our federation into a globally recognised space and the fact that Roma chose to partner with Nigeria over any other federation in Africa is an indicator of how much respect our brand and this country has in the world of international football.”
“This formal partnership is the natural evolution of the great relationship between the NFF and Roma that began when Roma announced that with Italy absent from the 2018 World Cup, we would be supporting Nigeria,” says Paul Rogers, Head of Strategy at Roma. “Roma’s digital team began working with the Super Eagles in 2018 on their social media coverage of the World Cup and earlier this year, we again worked with Nigeria during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Continuing, Rogers said, ”through our unique use of social media, and initially using the hashtag #ForzaSuperEagles, we’ve developed an incredible and fun rapport with Nigerian football fans, media and celebrities.”
Roger disclosed that, Roma’s President, Jim Pallotta “has made no secret of his wish to see Roma play a match in Nigeria as a thank you to the Nigerian fans for the support they have shown us and it would be great if through this partnership, we can make that happen.”
Super Eagles fans all over the world took to the Italian club last Summer after it announced it was backing the Super Eagles at the World Cup. In March this year, the club cemented its love for the Eagles by launching a pidgin Twitter dedicated to the team. The Nigerian trio of Umar Sadiq, Adewale Wahab and Akande Ajide are currently on the book of AS Roma.
The Super Eagles enjoyed support from AS Roma at last year’s World Cup in Russia
