NFF Demands N1Billion Compensation From Airtel Over ‘Ambush Marketing’ Of Super Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has threatened legal action against telecommunications giant Airtel Nigeria, accusing the company of “ambush marketing” related to the Super Eagles’ campaign at the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

In a letter from the football governing body’s solicitors, Festus Keyamo Chambers, the NFF highlighted a specific image on Airtel Nigeria’s verified Instagram account. The post featured live pictures of four Super Eagles players alongside the NFF’s trademarked logo and Airtel’s logo, presented together in a single box. Accompanying phrases included “We are with you, Eagles!” and ‘#FeelTheConnection’, which the NFF argues misleadingly suggested a partnership between them and Airtel Nigeria.

The NFF stated, “Your organisation has thereby engaged in passing off as the said publications are a misleading advertisement that suggests the association of your organisation with the NFF and its affiliates.”

The federation believes the publication was “malicious,” given their existing sponsorship contract with a competing brand. They assert that Airtel’s actions aimed to damage their relationships with partners and sponsors, depriving them of revenue while exploiting the NFF brand’s goodwill and the Super Eagles’ success for business exposure.

As a result, the NFF is demanding the immediate removal of all offending and similar publications from Airtel’s social media platforms, a cessation of any further such publications, and the prompt payment of N1,000,000,000 (One Billion Naira) as compensation for loss of revenue, reputational damage, and general damages.