Roma have announced the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as their first African partner, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

Under the terms of the three-year deal, the two will share soccer, business and media expertise, with Roma offering the NFF technical and operational support advice across youth coaching, player development, soccer administration and digital media best practices.

In return, the national soccer body will work with the club's development initiatives in Nigeria.

Both parties are exploring the possibility of Roma playing a friendly match in Nigeria, an idea that has already been championed by club president Jim Pallotta. Opening a Roma academy in the country is also being assessed.

The team have already endeared themselves to Nigerian fans after backing the national team at the 2018 Fifa World Cup after Italy failed to qualify for the tournament in Russia. In addition, the club launched a Pidgin language Twitter account, which currently has more than 18,400 followers. Pidgin is spoken by an estimated 75 million people in Nigeria, with additional speakers across west and central Africa.

Manolo Zubiria, chief global sporting officer at AS Roma, said: "Nigeria is a real football nation and we're looking forward to sharing best practices in elite talent development and football business and administration with the Nigeria Football Federation."

Amaju Pinnick, NFF president, added: "We feel that this partnership can be incredibly beneficial for the Nigerian national team at all age levels and Nigerian football as a whole.

"Roma have shown an incredible support for the Super Eagles and have fully embraced Nigerian football fans, even launching a Pidgin Twitter account, and we look forward to unveiling the exciting projects and initiatives this partnership will unlock."