NFF President Amaju Pinnick (right) with Ali Sha (left) exchanging autographed balls presented by Ezenwa.

The Nigeria Football Federation and Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited Thursday in Lagos signed a contractual agreement that immediately made Reckitt’s product, Dettol the Official Hygiene Partner of the Super Eagles.

At a simple ceremony inside the Studio2 of HotSports Media Group in Oregun, Akbar Ali Sha, General Manager of Reckitt Benckiser in Sub-Sahara Africa, described the union between the Football House and his company as a ‘historical moment’, insisting the agreement aligned firmly with the firm’s purpose, which is “to protect, heal and to nurture in relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world.”

In this spirit, Dettol is primed to provide hygiene protection for the Super Eagles at every turn before and after every of their matches on the road to and at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon next year summer, and on the road to and at the FIFA World Cup finals taking place in Qatar at the end of next year.

 "We will also seek to extend the protection to millions of fans of the Super Eagles through our partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation. The world is presently going through the worst health crisis in the history of mankind and it is a glorious opportunity to underscore the importance of hygiene and best health practices around the Super Eagles and their supporters,” Ali Sha added. 

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, acknowledged Dettol as the household name for anti-septic globally, and expressed the excitement of the football body to welcome the much-loved product on board. “In truth, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way so many things are done, including the organization of football itself. We are guided and guarded, and with Dettol, we know we will be the better for it. 

“Our goal at the NFF is to attain 80% self-funding by the end of this year, and I have faith that we will get there. Football is the biggest single unifier in our country and I believe that makes it one of the sectors that should be doing exceedingly well. Our vision is to have corporate support all around our events and activities, and I am particularly happy that Dettol is here. It is a further vindication that we are doing things right.

“I want to here and now provide Dettol full assurance that the NFF will observe the spirit and letter of the entire contract that we have signed today.”

Also at the event were Mr Tanzim Rezwan (Reckitt’s Marketing Director, Sub-Sahara Africa); Mustapha Bugaje (Reckitt’s Sales Director, Nigeria); Mr Taye Ige (President, HotSports Media Group – facilitators of the agreement); Mr Ademola Olajire (NFF’s Director of Communications); Mr Yohanna Mathias (NFF’s Director, Audit) and Mr Alizor Chuks (NFF’s Ag. Director, Marketing).

There was also Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa.