NAFA completes first ever flag football exhibition for colleges, varsities in Nigeria
The Nigeria Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL), an initiative of the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA), made history on Saturday, September 6th, 2025, at Unique Open University, (Ikeja Campus) Agidingbi, where it hosted its first-ever exhibition games.
The event brought together over 60 student-athletes from four tertiary institutions across Nigeria, competing in eight thrilling games before a crowd of over 500 enthusiastic spectators.
The tournament ended with Unique Open University emerging as champions, capping a day that blended competition, community, and celebration.
In a surprise gesture, the President and Founder of Unique Open University, Professor Chris Imumolen, awarded the winners a cash prize of ₦1 million, describing it as “an investment in youth excellence and a way to encourage innovation through sports.”
He commended NAFA for introducing a fast-growing global sport to Nigerian students and urged the athletes to see the platform as a springboard for both athletic and leadership growth.
Speaking at the event, NAFA President, Babajide Akeredolu, emphasised the vision behind NCFFL: “Our goal is clear, we want to build a clear pathway for Flag Football, from secondary schools to universities and into professional opportunities.
”This exhibition has shown us that Nigeria has the talent and passion. The NCAA in the U.S. became the talent pool for the NFL; we envision the NCFFL becoming that same pipeline for Nigeria and Africa.”
This vision is already being realized through collaboration with the Community Flag Football League (CFFL), whose teams trained the student-athletes for over five weeks in preparation for the exhibition.
Vice-President of NUGA, Dr. Emmanuel Okeme, shared his excitement: “Watching these students play with such energy and discipline for the first time was inspiring. I am confident that Flag Football will become a key sport in Nigerian universities, and NUGA will support its integration.”
Coordinator of NAFA’s Collegiate Programmes, Jesunifemi Tenten, added: “The NCFFL is just one of the programs we are rolling out to expand American football in Nigeria. Others will follow in due time, but today’s event has proven that our vision is not just possible, it is already happening.”
A winning athlete from Unique Open University reflected on the historic victory: “This was my first time playing Flag Football, and I can’t believe we are leaving here as champions. The training and the experience were incredible, and it has opened my eyes to new opportunities through sports.”
The NCFFL exhibition is only the beginning. NAFA has announced plans to expand the program across all six geo-political zones and seven states, with a target of training over 1,000 new student-athletes nationwide. The league will return in full force at the 2025 NUGA Games in UNILAG, where more schools are expected to join.
Flag Football has been officially approved as a sport for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, making Nigeria’s early investment in the sport timely. By positioning Nigerian students at the forefront, NAFA is setting the stage for future Olympians.
The success of the NCFFL exhibition highlights what is possible when institutions, sports bodies, and communities work together. NAFA calls on stakeholders, schools, corporate sponsors, and government to partner in expanding Flag Football across Nigeria.
“This was more than an exhibition; it was a movement,” Akeredolu concluded. “And we are only just beginning.”
