Nigeria to compete with three teams at NFL Flag Africa Championship in Kenya
The Nigerian Federation of American Football (NFAF) has announced that the country's men's, women's and Under-13 national teams will compete at the 2026 NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 9 to 11.
The championship will be the third NFL Flag continental tournament to be held in Africa, following previous editions hosted by Nigeria in 2024 and Egypt in 2025.
This year's competition will, for the first time, feature men's and women's national teams from five countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa. It will also include a co-ed Under-13 tournament, with each participating nation fielding a 10-player squad.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, the NFAF expressed confidence in the team's preparation despite being a relatively new federation.
"As a new federation, we know we still have plenty to learn, but our players and coaches have put in the work to get ready for this competition. We are proud to represent Nigeria in Nairobi and to give our athletes this platform to compete and grow," the federation said in a statement.
The tournament is organised in partnership with the National Football League (NFL) and sanctioned by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), with support from the Kenyan Federation of American Football.
In addition to the championship, an NFL elite talent identification workout will be held on July 11, giving players the opportunity to be evaluated by NFL representatives under the league's NFL Africa programme.
The NFAF said it hopes to build on the experience gained at the tournament as it continues to develop flag football in Nigeria. The sport is one of the fastest-growing in the world and is set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
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