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The American Football Association of Nigeria, also known as the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA), is a private organization dedicated to promoting and developing American football across Nigeria.
Established in 2019, NAFA operates as an associated member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) representing Nigeria though they are not officially recognized as the governing body of American Football by the Nigerian government.[1]
History
NAFA was founded in November 2019 by Babajide Akeredolu, alongside co-founders Obatolu Oluwaseye from the United Kingdom and Dominik Mueller from Germany and Lawrence Ojaideh who currently serves as the Secretary general of the organization.[2] The organization's primary mission is to utilize American football as a vehicle for personal and national development, emphasizing grassroots participation, educational scholarships, and community outreach initiatives.[3]
Key initiatives and achievements
NSSFFL: NAFA organizes the Nigerian Secondary School Flag Football League (NSSFFL) which brings athletes from different states in Nigeria to participate in Flag football tournaments. [4] This annual tournament aims to develop the sport among young Nigerians and provides opportunities for scholarships and talent recognition.[5]
League Development: NAFA is committed to establishing and sustaining a professional American football league in Nigeria, with plans for regional conferences and international competition.
Grassroots Development: The organization promotes the inclusion of American football in Nigeria's educational curriculum to foster grassroots development.[3]
AKETI BOWL- The AKETI BOWL, is a prestigious event within the Nigeria Secondary Schools Flag Football League (NSSFFL). The last championship (Season II) was hosted in Ondo State.[6] In this championship, Government Secondary School (GSS), Eket, Akwa Ibom State, emerged victorious in the boys' category by defeating Government Science Secondary School, Pyakasa, Abuja. wide. [7]
2025 African Flag Football Tournament and Continental Achievements
In June 2025, Nigeria’s men's and women’s national flag football teams emerged as champions of the inaugural African Flag Football Tournament held in Cairo, Egypt. The event was organised by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) in partnership with NFL Africa and featured national teams from across the continent, including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Cameroon, and Uganda.
Both Nigerian teams secured decisive victories, with the women’s team defeating Morocco and the men’s team overcoming Egypt in the final match on 21 June 2025. This double triumph marked a significant milestone for American football development in Nigeria and across Africa.[8]
A major contributor to the success was the Community Flag Football League (CFFL) Nigeria, which provided over 90 percent of the players on both teams. The coaching crew, also drawn entirely from CFFL-affiliated teams, played a key role in training and guiding the athletes through the tournament. In preparation for the competition, the CFFL organised a pre-tournament exhibition match—the Unity Bowl—between the national team and the CFFL All-Stars on 15 June 2025.[9]
NAFA, in collaboration with Browns Nigeria, provided key support to the women's team through the "Gridiron Gems" initiative, which focuses on promoting female participation and development in American football. Additionally, members of the Outlaws Athletics team—Ized Uanikhehi, Dike Meremoth, and Akitoye Ogboye—accompanied the teams to Egypt to provide on-ground support and media coverage.[10]
Following their victory, Team Nigeria has earned the right to represent Africa at the 2026 IFAF World Championships. In anticipation of future growth, NAFA and CFFL are collaborating on the NAFA Collegiate Exhibition Games 2025, aimed at expanding participation through the formation of university teams across the country. Plans are also underway for the launch of the official CFFL Arena and Stadium, which will serve as a dedicated hub for training and competition in Nigeria.[11]
Recognition and impact
NAFA's efforts have led to a significant increase in the popularity and presence of American football across Nigeria. The organization's focus on promoting safety culture and positive youth engagement has garnered recognition from national and international partners with its actions leading to selection of Jeff Okudah as the first NFL Player Ambassador to NAFA [12][13]
In 2023 the organization was invited by the National Football League to bring an U12 Flag Football team to the 2023 NFL Flag Championships at the Probowl.[14]
In June 2024, NAFA organized the first ever NFL Flag U14 Tournament in Nigeria during the NFL expansion program to Nigeria. The competition involved 12 schools from the states of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo. [15][16]
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