The president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, is confident that the signing of Nike as Nigeria's new kit partner will usher in a new era of sponsorship for the national teams.

Pinnick, in the company of Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi and other members of the NFF executive committee, signed the three-year deal in London on Thursday afternoon with the American firm.

"I am thoroughly convinced that this agreement is the beginning of good and great things to happen to Nigeria football with regards to sponsorship deals." Pinnick said after sealing the deal.

"The NFF is happy to come into partnership with a leading global brand like Nike. We are in good company."

One of the world's leading football brand,s which also kits the teams of South Africa, Brazil, France, England and USA among others, will be responsible for all of the nine national teams of Nigeria.

Nike will make an exclusive edition for the teams until its 2016-17 kit launches in mid-2016.

The Flying Eagles - Nigeria U-20 men's team - will be the first to sport the new Nike kit when the FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off next month in New Zealand.

It would be company's second experience with the Nigerian national teams after an earlier stint from 1994 to 2003. Pinnick also believes that as it was during their first partnership, the national teams will record more successes.

"During those years, Nigeria won a first-ever Olympics football gold (1996) and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup (1998). But I have no doubts whatsoever that this second coming of Nike into Nigeria football will bring even more joyous moments with plenty of laurels for the national teams," the NFF boss said.

"Nigeria football has excellent potential all around and a top global brand like Nike will help to spur the processes that the present NFF administration has put in place to drive our game to the next level."

Laurent Payre, Nike Africa VP-General Manager, expressed his company's delight with the deal.

"We are very pleased to partner with the Nigeria Football Federation, one of Africa's premier teams," Payre said. "The passion for football in Nigeria is renowned and Nike is committed to supporting and advancing the game at all levels through inspiration and innovation for young men and women."

The partnership would include supplying performance and training kits to Nigeria's teams, comprising the men and women senior teams, men and women U-20 teams, men and women U-17 teams, men and women Olympic teams, and the men beach football team.

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