The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced an extension to its commercial agreement with Nike.

The US sportswear powerhouse has been an official partner of the AFC since 2005. The renewed deal includes the AFC Asian Cup and the qualifying tournaments for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, along with the AFC club programme and its affiliated AFC Champions League.

Zhang Jilong, acting-president of the AFC, said: “Nike believed in the potential of Asian football and our alliance started in 2005. Nike’s commitment is a good testimony to the great appeal of AFC tournaments as a superior marketing platform. I couldn’t be more excited about the extension of AFC’s sponsorship agreement with Nike.”

World Sport Group’s East Asian department oversees the AFC’s sponsorship strategy and the group’s president, Nick Mould, added: “It is a great pleasure to renew our relationship with Nike on behalf of Asian football. Since the beginning of their engagement with the AFC, Nike have been a proactive and innovative partner and we look forward to continuing to work closely together.”