4 Months After NSC Recognition, NFAF Still Missing From IFAF Membership List

More than four months after the National Sports Commission (NSC) inaugurated the Nigeria Federation of American Football (NFAF) as the sport’s official governing body in the country, the federation has yet to be reflected as Nigeria’s recognised member on the membership directory of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).

The NSC formally established the NFAF in February 2026 following the resolution of longstanding disputes among stakeholders within the sport. At the inauguration ceremony, Babajide Akeredolu was named the federation’s pioneer president.

Speaking at the event, NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the move as a major step towards creating a structured framework capable of unlocking Nigeria’s vast potential in American football.

Since its inauguration, the NFAF has organised a series of activities aimed at developing the sport, including nationwide trials for the national teams, evaluation camps and preparations for international competitions.

Despite these efforts, the IFAF membership directory, as of 21 June 2026, continues to list the American Football Association of Nigeria (NAFA) as Nigeria’s Associate Member. The global governing body’s website still carries NAFA’s logo, leadership details and contact information, with no indication that the NFAF has replaced it as the country’s recognised representative.

The situation has prompted questions among stakeholders regarding the international status of the newly established federation and whether the transition from NAFA to NFAF has been formally completed at the global level.

While the NSC has recognised the NFAF as Nigeria’s governing body for American football, there has been no public communication from IFAF confirming a corresponding amendment to its membership records.

Sports administrators note that domestic recognition and international affiliation are distinct administrative processes. Membership changes at international level often require extensive documentation, constitutional reviews and formal approval by the relevant world governing body before they can be ratified.

With Nigeria preparing for future international engagements, stakeholders believe greater clarity from both the NSC and IFAF would help eliminate uncertainty surrounding the federation’s international standing.

For now, the NFAF remains Nigeria’s recognised governing body at home, but its status has yet to be reflected on the official records of American football’s world governing authority.