PUMA Joins Access Bank Lagos City Marathon as Official Apparel Sponsor

With nine days to go to the 11th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, global sportswear giant PUMA has been unveiled as the official apparel sponsor, giving a major boost to the prestige and international appeal of Africa’s foremost road race.

The announcement was made by the marathon organisers on Wednesday as preparations intensify for the February 14 event, which is expected to attract elite runners and thousands of participants from Nigeria and around the world.

PUMA, the world’s third-largest sportswear manufacturer, is headquartered in Bavaria, Germany, and is globally recognised for its focus on speed, performance and innovation. The brand’s partnership with the Lagos City Marathon underscores the growing global interest in the race and highlights its rising profile on the international athletics calendar.

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As part of its involvement, PUMA will bring its elite running expertise to Lagos, with particular emphasis on its flagship performance footwear, including the Deviate Nitro™ 3. The shoe, widely regarded as one of the standout running models of the season, is engineered to deliver enhanced speed, comfort and responsiveness for high-level competition.

Organisers said the partnership aligns with the marathon’s vision of meeting global standards while providing athletes with world-class support. They noted that PUMA’s strong reputation in endurance sports and its history of equipping elite athletes make the brand a strategic fit for the Lagos City Marathon.

Beyond athletics, PUMA has an extensive footprint across global sports. In football, the brand sponsors top European clubs such as Manchester City, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, alongside other sides including Olympique de Marseille, Valencia CF, Palmeiras and Girona FC. PUMA also supplies kits for several national teams, including Italy, Egypt, Ghana and Morocco.

The brand’s influence extends into motorsport, where it maintains high-profile partnerships with Formula One teams Scuderia Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG Petronas, reinforcing its image as a performance-driven sports brand.

Sports marketing analysts say PUMA’s entry as an official apparel sponsor further cements the Lagos City Marathon’s reputation as a world-class event and strengthens its claim as Africa’s leading road race. According to them, the involvement of a global brand of PUMA’s stature reflects increasing confidence in the marathon’s organisation, visibility and commercial value.

They added that the partnership is also expected to enhance the experience for runners and spectators alike, while opening new opportunities for future collaborations with international sports brands.

The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has grown steadily since its inception, attracting elite international athletes, local runners and thousands of recreational participants each year. The race is a World Athletics-recognised event and continues to play a key role in promoting distance running and sports tourism in Nigeria.

With less than two weeks to race day, organisers say preparations are on track, as anticipation builds for another historic edition of the Lagos City Marathon, now further strengthened by PUMA’s global backing.