By John Moses
The Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) has officially unveiled the competition jerseys that will be worn by its national teams at the inaugural International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Africa Flag Football Continental Games, set to be held in Egypt from 20 to 21 June 2025.
The unveiling ceremony took place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, where NAFA President Babajide Akeredolu handed over the team kits to Hon. Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
During his remarks, Olopade urged the athletes to carry Nigeria’s flag with honour and strive for gold. “I send you with my full confidence and best wishes. I am particularly optimistic about the women’s team bringing home gold,” he said, also commending the inclusion of a junior under-13 team, which he described as aligning with the Commission’s vision of long-term youth sports development.
A press statement issued by Kola Daniel, special media adviser to the NSC director general, highlighted Olopade’s enthusiasm about the growing popularity of flag football in Nigeria. He hinted at a potential collaboration between NAFA and Showtime, which could establish a national flag football league, stating: “Should this partnership come to fruition, flag football could rapidly become a household sport in Nigeria.”
NAFA President Akeredolu described the tournament as a “historic milestone” in the growth of the sport across the continent, especially after its recent recognition by the Olympic movement.
He confirmed that Nigeria would be represented by three teams: a men’s team, a women’s team, and a team comprising players under the age of 13. The squads have been in training for the past two months and draw talent from various leagues across the country, including the Abuja Flag Football League, Showtime, the Community Flag Football League, and the Ogun Flag Football League.
The Nigerian teams will face off against strong competition from other African nations including Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, and hosts Egypt, when the tournament kicks off this weekend.
