The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced that it will sign a new sponsorship deal Friday in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, which is seen to be better off than the 150 million naira annual contract with its former sponsors.

NFF's Chief Media Officer Demola Olajire told Xinhua in a phone interview that the new arrangement will be a landmark partnership agreement that will be worth about 2.56 million naira (about 241,500 US dollars) annually.

The NFF is yet to name the new partner in the deal which is to last four years, but some sources suggest it would be another major player in the telecommunications sector.

NFF officials have refrained from making comments on deal even as Globacom officials have been quoted in the national dailies as saying that they still have a valid contract with the NFF.

The Football Federation (NFA) insisted that there is no going back on the decision.

One of the telecommunications company is said to have previously lost out in an earlier bid to get a stake in the nation's football.

The outcome of the decision is expected to be made by Thursday morning at the very latest, ahead of the signing ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2008)