Nigeria will be represented by its men’s, women’s and Under-13 national flag football teams at the 2026 NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship, scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 9 to 11.
The championship will be the third edition of the continental event after previous tournaments hosted in Nigeria in 2024 and Egypt in 2025.
For the first time, the competition will feature men’s and women’s national teams from five African countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa. It will also include a mixed-gender Under-13 tournament, with each participating nation fielding a 10-player squad.
The Nigerian Federation of American Football expressed confidence in its teams despite being a relatively young organisation.
“Although we are still growing as a federation, our coaches and athletes have worked hard in preparation for this tournament. We are honoured to represent Nigeria in Nairobi and excited to provide our players with the opportunity to compete and gain valuable experience,” the federation said in a statement.
The championship is being organised in collaboration with the National Football League and sanctioned by the International Federation of American Football, while the Kenyan Federation of American Football is providing local support.
A major highlight of the event will be the NFL elite talent identification session on July 11, where selected athletes will be evaluated by NFL scouts under the league’s NFL Africa initiative.
The federation added that it hopes to build on the lessons from the tournament as it continues promoting and expanding flag football across Nigeria. The sport is enjoying rapid global growth and is expected to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
