Nigeria’s preparation for Africa Flag 2025 to be played in Egypt from June 20-21 has been boosted by the inclusion of Flag Football as a demonstration sport at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival Gateway Games Ogun, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
President of the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA) Babajide Akeredolu confirmed that NAFA in collaboration with the Showtime Flag Football League would showcase talent at all levels of the game, from U12 and U13 to established leagues and the Nigerian national team.
“The exhibition will comprise of a myriad of exciting activities including a mini competition and a showcase for the young athletes set to represent Nigeria in Egypt,” explained Akeredolu. “We will also highlight the U13 players and those excelling in the Nigerian Secondary Schools Flag Football League, which we have organized in collaboration with the Nigeria School Sports Federation since 2020.
“Our priority is creating as many match day scenarios as possible to foster team synergy. We’ve already started building chemistry through training camps, and playing together consistently is essential.”
The NAFA President emphasized that the federation is committed not only to competing in national and international events but also to nurturing talents from a young age, ensuring they develop to the level where they can represent Nigeria in global tournaments. NAFA is working closely with the National Olympic Committee to establish proper regulations and best practices for American Football in Nigeria.
“NAFA has been growing,” he added. “Last year, we were in 13 states; this year, we are in 17. With a platform like this, we can attract more attention to the sport. With more than 17,000 athletes being introduced to the sport since our inception, we are confident we can expand further. Our goal remains to become Nigeria's second-largest sport.
“We recently launched our initiative for women through Flag Football. We are finalizing talks with NUGA and are developing a certification program for coaches and referees across Africa. This is an excellent platform for players to refine their skills and gain more exposure.”
NAFA Vice President, Seye Obatolu added: “Our approach is to get as many people playing flag football as possible, while a small percentage can later transition to tackle football. Flag football aligns with our broader strategy for growing the sport. It involves less physical contact, making it easier for anyone to pick up.”
The Nigerian men’s and women’s national teams that are preparing to compete at Africa Flag 2025 have been selected from tryouts and training camps held in Abuja and Lagos. An initial selection of 50 athletes was narrowed down to squads of 25 following two months of rigorous training and narrowed down further to the 12-player rosters traveling to Cairo.
Photo: NAFA
