Updates

The ‘NFL Africa’ program is set to expand to Nigeria as the league continues to prioritize growing the game at all levels across the continent.

Activities will take place in Lagos, with a 3-day football talent identification camp as well as NFL FLAG activities June 14-18 — underlining a commitment to develop more ways to serve athletes and fans in the country.  

“It's truly an honor to be leading the NFL's efforts across Africa and expand key programming into a fourth country across the continent, Nigeria – a place that is very close to my heart," said Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl Champion and the NFL's Africa lead. “We've seen the incredible impact the program has had on young athletes' lives to date, and we look forward to creating more opportunities for global talent to play the game and grow that impact in the years ahead."

With more than 130 NFL players of African descent (born in Africa or first generation born in the U.S.), events taking place for promising young athletes in Nigeria will continue to advance pathways to play.

Twenty-one prospects from 10 countries across Africa will first take part in the 3-day NFL combine-style football camp to showcase their skills, competing for invites to join the NFL Academy in Loughborough, U.K. or the International Player Pathway program.

Several current NFL players will join talent identification camp events in Lagos, including David Njoku of the Cleveland Browns, Bobby Okereke and Kayvon Thibodeaux of the New York Giants, Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks and free agent Prince Tega ​Wanogho.

In collaboration with the Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA), an NFL FLAG tournament between 12 U14 local Nigerian school teams will follow in Lagos, as part of league efforts to continue to grow the game at all levels.

The NFL will also host a first-of-its-kind women's flag football workout, with U.S. scholarships available for top athletes — offering talented women in Africa pathways to the game.

Participation in flag football is growing globally. It’s currently played by over 20 million people across 100 countries, with women and girls driving some of the sport's fastest growth.

In partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the NFL is investing in the development and growth of flag football at grassroots and elite levels across the world ahead of the sport's official debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Cleveland Browns, who have marketing rights in Nigeria as part of the Global Markets Program, will support the events in Lagos by providing lanyards, sunglasses and additional gear to prospects and youth flag football players.

NFL Africa expansion throughout the continent follows a successful delivery of programming in Ghana in 2022 as well as Kenya and Cape Town in 2023, including talent identification camps, NFL FLAG clinics and fan events held each country.

For more information on the NFL's international efforts visit: https://www.nfl.com/international/.