This marks the third installment of my series on Flag Football’s growth in Nigeria. After a brief hiatus to participate in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) elections, where I showed interest to represent the Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD) on the board, but that is a story for another day. I extend congratulations to the newly elected members and President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, a good friend and mentor.
Back to my series, Flag football is gaining momentum in Nigerian sports, boasting an impressive 85% increase in participation since 2023 with over 13,000 young Nigerians already impacted through outreach programs, flag football’s vast potential is becoming increasingly evident.
As I mentioned in part two of this series, Mr. Lawrence Ojaideh, Secretary General of the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA), reached out to me via email. After reviewing his message, I’ve extracted the relevant paragraph below with minor edits.
“Over the past five years, NAFA has developed a robust grassroots pathway, supporting leagues, programs and initiatives at all levels and driving the growth of American Football as a whole. As we prepare to represent Nigeria in Egypt, we are meticulously ensuring that a solid foundation is established locally. With structured leadership and support from government officials, professional athletes, dedicated leagues and partners like BROWNS NIGERIA, Nigeria is well-positioned to elevate flag football to new heights. Our objective is to make the sport accessible nationwide, from schools to national leagues, and ultimately establish Nigeria as a formidable presence in international competitions.”
To date, NAFA has introduced the game of American Football directly to over 12000 young men and women in 13 States and over 150 schools and has supported all flag football leagues across the country, Ojaideh concluded.”
With its unique blend of accessibility and thrill, flag football is an appealing choice for athletes seeking a new challenge, and NAFA and Showtime are working to popularize it. As the sport continues to grow in Nigeria and Africa, it may pave the way for Olympic inclusion in near future. A key question remains: what’s the current status of flag football development in Nigeria, and how is NAFA advancing this initiative?
This question arises from my investigation into NAFA’s activities, where I had anticipated they’d be making strides comparable to initiatives like Making of Champions—a movement driving revolution in Athletics and other sports across Nigeria and Africa. However, the current state of flag football development seems to fall short of these expectations.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to inform NAFA’s leadership that, under the Olympic Movement’s guidelines, a national team can only be represented internationally by a recognized federation with proper backing from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) via the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). To avoid international ridicule, these structural issues need urgent rectification, ensuring Nigeria’s flag football endeavors are legitimized and globally compliant.
As flag football gains traction among Nigerian youths, offering promising opportunities for career growth and global exposure, it’s imperative to establish a dedicated federation. With the National Sports Commission (NSC) empowered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the NSC should oversee and enable this new federation to thrive, securing corporate funding and support beyond government reliance, unlike the current dynamics observed with NAFA.
With flag football’s successful debut at the Gateway Games, where Lagos took the top spot, it’s time for collective action to propel the sport to new heights—potentially even surpassing esports. Let’s rally behind like-minded individuals and organizations to turn this vision into a thriving reality.
Phemmy Adetula is former Board member/PRO Nigeria Olympic Committee
