‎‎Nigeria’s flag football league, CFFL, will begin its fourth season on November 1, with nine teams set to compete over 11 consecutive Sundays as the league partners with The Uprise, a sports representation and talent management agency founded by two-time Super Bowl champion Osi Umenyiora.

‎The new season, tagged CFFL Uprise Season 4, will feature an upgraded home venue and expanded digital coverage, including match highlights, weekly player and team awards, and a dedicated statistics page to improve fans’ access to the competition.

‎According to a statement issued by CFFL, the partnership with The Uprise marks a new phase in the league’s development from a grassroots initiative in Lagos to a recognised platform for flag football in Africa.

‎Vice-President, Legal and Competition Readiness, CFFL, Aseobong Etah, said the new season would provide more opportunities for teams and supporters to engage with the competition.

‎“Kickoff is the day every team in this league works towards, and Season 4 is our biggest one yet. We have more teams on the field, a better home for them, and more ways for fans to follow every snap,” he said.

‎Etah added that the league belonged to its teams and the wider community, expressing optimism that the new season would showcase the progress made by the competition.

‎CFFL said it had introduced a weekly content programme to keep supporters engaged throughout the season, with matches to be recorded, edited and released on YouTube and TikTok, alongside daily highlight clips.

‎The league will also feature Player of the Week, Play of the Week and Team of the Week selections, while a Sunday recap will be published on its new website. Fixtures for the following weekend will be announced every Thursday.

‎The new digital platforms, including a dedicated statistics page and a new YouTube channel, are expected to provide players, families, fans and the media with easier access to match information and developments throughout the competition.

‎Umenyiora said the new season should raise the standard of competition, increase the sport’s visibility and create more opportunities for athletes.

‎“Every new season is an opportunity to raise expectations and set a higher standard. That’s what we want to see from CFFL Season 4, greater competition, greater visibility and more opportunities for the athletes who are shaping the future of this sport,” he said.

‎“The talent is here. Our responsibility is to ensure the opportunities match its potential,” he added.

‎A Spartans defensive captain, Fortune Meremoth, also expressed enthusiasm ahead of the season, saying players were eager to return to competition after the off-season.

‎“I’ve been waiting all off-season for this. The standard keeps going up, and I want to show what our team can do in front of our fans,” Meremoth said.

‎The league said the competition would build on its previous efforts to develop flag football in Nigeria, noting that it had engaged more than 500 young athletes through its programmes and outreach activities.

‎It added that its players contributed to Nigeria’s performance at the 2025 International Federation of American Football African Flag Football Championship.

‎Flag football, a low-contact version of American football, is also gaining international attention ahead of its scheduled debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

‎CFFL said Season 4 would focus on player development and expanding opportunities beyond the field, including roles in coaching, refereeing and content creation, while strengthening its engagement with schools and local communities.

‎The league said further announcements on teams, fixtures and match content would be made through its social media platforms and website ahead of the November 1 kickoff.