The Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA) has announced plans to host a national Under-13 flag football tournament in Lagos on April 2, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen grassroots sports development and boost participation in school-based athletics.

The NFL FLAG U-13 Co-ed National Football Tournament Invitational will take place at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, popularly known as Onikan Stadium, and is expected to feature student-athletes from schools across the country in a structured and competitive environment.

Organisers said the tournament is designed to introduce young players to flag football at an early stage while creating a clear development pathway for aspiring athletes. The initiative also aligns with NAFA’s broader strategy to integrate the non-contact version of American football into Nigeria’s school sports system.

The event is being organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Federation for American Football, signalling increased institutional coordination and a renewed drive to provide structure and long-term direction for the sport in Nigeria.

Several partners are supporting the tournament, including Nigeria School Sports Federation, the Lagos State Sports Commission, the International Federation of American Football, and NFL FLAG. According to NAFA, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to expanding youth participation in sports and providing structured development opportunities for students.

Beyond competition, the association noted that the tournament will serve as a platform to instil core values such as teamwork, discipline, confidence, and leadership among young athletes. By engaging schools directly, NAFA aims to embed flag football more firmly within Nigeria’s educational and sporting framework.

Recent progress in the sport at the school level has already begun to yield results. Greensprings School Lekki represented Nigeria at the maiden NFL FLAG U-13 African Championship in Egypt last year, highlighting the growing competitiveness of Nigerian school teams and the potential of young players when given access to structured opportunities.

Organisers say such milestones underscore the importance of sustained investment in grassroots sports and the need for regular competitions to expose students to higher levels of play.

NAFA added that hosting the national invitational marks another step toward increasing awareness, participation, and institutional support for flag football in Nigeria. It emphasised that continued collaboration among sports bodies, schools, and development partners will be critical to building a stronger school sports ecosystem and ensuring the sport’s long-term growth.

The tournament is expected to draw students, coaches, sports administrators, and youth development stakeholders, as Nigeria continues to explore new pathways for expanding organised sports at the grassroots level