Nigeria Eyes Continental Glory As NFAF Unveils 3 Teams For 2026 NFL Flag Africa Championship

The Nigerian Federation of American Football (NFAF) has confirmed that Nigeria will compete with men’s, women’s and Under-13 national teams at the 2026 NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship, scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 9 to 11 July.

The championship represents another major milestone in the development of American football across Africa and offers Nigeria an opportunity to compete against the continent’s leading emerging nations in the rapidly growing discipline of flag football.

This year’s tournament will be the third NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship, following successful editions hosted in Nigeria in 2024 and Egypt in 2025.

For the first time, the competition will feature senior men’s and women’s national teams from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa, while a co-educational Under-13 tournament will also bring together young athletes from the five participating nations.

NFAF officials expressed confidence that Nigeria’s representatives are well prepared despite the federation’s relatively recent establishment.

“As a new federation, we know there is still plenty to learn, but our players and coaches have worked extremely hard to prepare for this competition,” an NFAF spokesperson said.

“We are proud to represent Nigeria in Nairobi and to give our athletes an opportunity to compete at the highest continental level while continuing their development.”

The event is being organised in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), authorised by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and hosted locally by the Kenyan Federation of American Football (KFAF).

Beyond the championship itself, the event will also feature an NFL elite talent identification workout on 11 July, where selected athletes will have the opportunity to impress NFL scouts as part of the league’s expanding NFL Africa development programme.

The talent identification initiative has become an important pathway for African athletes hoping to earn opportunities in international American football.

NFAF believes participation in the tournament will accelerate the growth of flag football in Nigeria, particularly ahead of its historic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The federation says experiences gained in Nairobi will help strengthen coaching, player development and grassroots programmes as Nigeria seeks to establish itself among Africa’s leading flag football nations.

With three national teams heading to Kenya, expectations are high that Nigeria can make a strong impression both on and off the field.