Nigeria is set to make its debut at the first-ever IFAF Africa Flag Football Continental Games in Egypt with high hopes and a strong sense of national pride, following the official unveiling of the national team’s kits in Abuja earlier this week.
The launch, hosted at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, was led by Babajide Akeredolu, President of the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA), who presented the kits to Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission.
In a motivational address, Olopade encouraged the athletes to make Nigeria proud. “I’m confident our athletes will rise to the occasion, particularly our women’s team. Their determination makes them strong contenders for gold,” he said. He also praised the inclusion of an under-13 team, noting its alignment with Nigeria’s broader strategy for grassroots sports development.
A statement released by Kola Daniel, media aide to the NSC director general, revealed that talks are underway for a strategic partnership between NAFA and Showtime to launch a nationwide flag football league. Olopade remarked: “If realised, this collaboration could transform flag football into a mainstream sport across Nigeria.”
Akeredolu described the Egyptian tournament as “a defining moment for flag football in Africa”, especially as the sport continues to gain traction globally, including its recent recognition by the International Olympic Committee.
Nigeria will field three teams at the event: a main national squad, a dedicated women’s team, and a pioneering U13 youth team. All three squads have been undergoing intensive training for the past two months and are supported by players drawn from prominent national leagues.
The country’s delegation will compete against elite sides from Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Senegal, Morocco, and Tunisia in a two-day contest that is set to raise the profile of flag football on the continent.
With growing grassroots support and a vision for sustainable development, Nigeria’s entry into the tournament underscores a bold new chapter for American football in Africa.
