The Nigerian Federation of American Football (NFAF) has confirmed that Nigeria’s men’s, women’s, and under-13 national sides will take part in the 2026 NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship, scheduled for July 9 to 11 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Key takeaways
- Nigeria will be represented by its men’s, women’s, and U-13 national teams at the 2026 NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship.
- The tournament runs from July 9–11 in Nairobi, Kenya.
- This will be the third NFL Flag continental championship staged in Africa, with prior editions in Nigeria (2024) and Egypt (2025).
- For the first time, men’s and women’s national teams will compete alongside a co-ed U13 tournament featuring 10-player squads.
- Participating countries are Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa.
- A talent identification workout for elite prospects is set for July 11 as part of the NFL Africa program.
Continental championship returns to Africa
The 2026 edition continues the momentum of NFL Flag’s presence on the continent, serving as the third continental championship in Africa after events hosted in Nigeria in 2024 and Egypt in 2025.
In Nairobi, the competition will expand in format by featuring both men’s and women’s national teams from five countries—Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa—while also staging a co-ed under-13 youth competition. Each country’s U13 entry will be made up of squads of 10 players.
An NFAF spokesperson said the federation is approaching the event with a learning mindset, adding that players and coaches have done the necessary preparation to arrive ready to compete. The spokesperson also expressed pride in representing Nigeria in Nairobi and in using the championship as a chance for athletes to test themselves and develop.
Sanctioning, partnerships and NFL pathway
The championship is being held in partnership with the NFL and is authorized by IFAF, the international governing body for the sport. The event also benefits from local backing provided by the Kenyan Federation of American Football (KFAF).
Beyond the matches, the three-day week will include an NFL elite talent identification workout on July 11. The session is designed to give players an opportunity to be evaluated by NFL representatives through the league’s NFL Africa initiative.
NFAF also linked the tournament to its broader development goals, saying it expects to build on the experience as it continues growing flag football in Nigeria. The federation noted that the sport is among the fastest-growing in the world and is set to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
