SAFA Teams Up with Adidas for New Era of National Kits

A highly respected source indicates that the German sportswear giant Adidas is in a prime position to become the new official kit sponsor for the South African Football Association (SAFA).

This deal, which will cover all national teams, is expected to begin in January, following the expiration of the current contract with French brand Le Coq Sportif at the end of December.

End of an Era with Le Coq Sportif

SAFA reportedly sought an early termination of its five-year deal with Le Coq Sportif due to dissatisfaction with the quality and delivery of merchandise. The French company, which has been SAFA’s partner since 2020, also faced its own challenges, including filing for bankruptcy in France earlier this year.

This led to a public parting of ways with the French national rugby team after a legal dispute over unpaid fees. Despite these issues, Le Coq Sportif South Africa has assured SAFA that its local operations remain unaffected.

The current kit partnership will conclude at the end of December, but Le Coq Sportif will still provide kits for Bafana Bafana’s campaign in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place in Morocco from December to January.

A New Chapter with Adidas

Adidas’s new contract is set to officially start in January. The German brand will not provide a new kit for Bafana Bafana’s AFCON campaign, which will already be underway.

The new Adidas kit will be unveiled after the tournament, with Bafana Bafana expected to wear it for the first time in friendly matches in March, and in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico if they qualify.

This will mark a return for Adidas, which previously sponsored SAFA from 1998 to 2011 before being replaced by Puma.

SAFA’s decision follows a bidding war among major sportswear brands like Nike, Kappa, Puma, and Adidas. The SAFA National Executive Committee members were particularly impressed by Adidas, securing the partnership.

While the relationship with Le Coq Sportif had its challenges, it also coincided with significant success for South African teams, including Banyana Banyana’s triumph at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and Bafana Bafana’s bronze medal at the previous AFCON.

The country’s U-20 team, Amajita, also won the CAF U-20 Junior AFCON in Morocco in May and will compete in the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup.