The Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA) is using the 22nd National Sports Festival, Gateway Games Ogun 2024, to fine-tune preparations for Nigeria’s participation in the upcoming African Flag Football Tournament in Egypt, with Vice President Seye Obatolu underscoring the event’s role in shaping a cohesive national team.

During the showcase of American Flag Football at the Games, Obatolu said the association had completed an intensive two-month scouting process across multiple domestic leagues and is now focused on strategic training to sharpen the team’s performance ahead of the tournament.

“We’ve just gone through a two-month process of selecting the players that we feel are ready to represent Nigeria,” Obatolu stated.

“Now, we are going to go through another few weeks in terms of telling these players exactly what we want them to do, representing us.”

He explained that NAFA is not just preparing to compete but aims to return with the championship.
“Our expectation is to win, and our aim is to bring back the trophy to Nigeria,” he said. “We’re preparing—we’re going to be camping for the rest of the week before we travel.”

The association sees Flag Football not only as a gateway to competitive success but also as a more inclusive and cost-effective alternative to traditional tackle football.

Obatolu said this approach is part of a broader strategy to expand the sport’s reach in Nigeria, especially among youth.

“There are many misconceptions about American Football being overly physical and tackle-focused. This is an opportunity to highlight the safer aspects of the sport,” he said.

“Spectators will be able to see these athletes in action while we identify potential new talents.”

“Flag Football aligns with our broader strategy for growing the sport. It involves less physical contact, making it easier for anyone to pick up,” he added. “The cost of running a tackle football program is significantly higher. Tackling requires helmets and extensive protective gear, with startup costs ranging from $2,000 to $3,000. In contrast, Flag Football only requires a ball and flags, making it much more accessible.”

NAFA President Babajide Akeredolu described the Egypt tournament as a key stepping stone toward global qualification, with both youth and adult categories represented.

“Beyond the U-13 category, adult players will also be competing in Egypt. The tournament serves as a crucial step toward qualification for next year’s World Games,” Akeredolu said.

He emphasised that building team chemistry through repeated match-day simulations has been central to the team’s preparation.

“Our priority is creating as many match day scenarios as possible to foster team synergy. We’ve already started building chemistry through training camps, and playing together consistently is essential,” he noted.

Obatolu confirmed that camps have been held in both Abuja and Lagos to allow players from across the country to showcase their talents and develop cohesion.

“To establish Team Nigeria, we first formed a committee that included representatives from all existing leagues, and we received strong support,” he said.

“Most leagues are part of the steering committee for Team Nigeria.”

He acknowledged contributions from partners supporting the national effort, including the team’s General Manager.

“We must also recognise the role of Mr Bobby Okereke, the General Manager of the team and his NGO, the Nigeria American Football Outreach, through which critical support has been mobilised for the overall operations of Team Nigeria. Similarly, a lot of appreciation goes to BROWNS NIGERIA for supporting the women’s team and NAFA as a whole,” Obatolu said.

Following months of evaluation, the final roster for Egypt has been confirmed.

“Through this process, we initially selected 50 male and female athletes. After nearly two months of rigorous training, we narrowed the group down to 25 male and 25 female athletes,” Obatolu said.

“The leagues have been highly supportive, not only in releasing their players but also in monitoring their progress and adjusting their schedules to accommodate training camps.”

With final preparations underway, NAFA’s leadership believes the groundwork has been laid for a competitive showing in Egypt.

“We’ve built this team carefully, and our goal is clear—go to Egypt, represent Nigeria proudly, and return with the trophy,” Obatolu said.