NFAF Yet to Appear on IFAF Membership List

More than four months after the National Sports Commission (NSC) inaugurated the Nigeria Federation of American Football (NFAF) as the country’s official governing body for the sport, the federation is yet to be reflected as Nigeria’s recognized member on the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) membership directory.

The NSC formally inaugurated the NFAF in February 2026 following the resolution of disputes among stakeholders, with Babajide Akeredolu named as the federation’s pioneer president.

At the inauguration, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko described the establishment of the federation as a major step toward creating the structure required to develop American football in Nigeria and harness the country’s potential in the sport.

Since its inauguration, the NFAF has organized national team trials, evaluation camps and preparations for international competitions as part of efforts to strengthen the sport’s development.

However, checks on the official IFAF website as of June 21, 2026, showed that the American Football Association of Nigeria (NAFA) remains listed as Nigeria’s Associate Member. The global body’s membership directory still displays NAFA’s logo, leadership and contact information, with no indication that the NFAF has replaced it as the country’s recognized federation.

The situation has generated discussions among stakeholders regarding the international status of the newly established federation and whether the transition from NAFA to NFAF has been formally completed at the global level. While the NSC recognizes the NFAF as Nigeria’s official governing body for American football, IFAF has yet to publicly announce any corresponding update to its membership records.

Sports administrators note that domestic recognition and international affiliation are separate processes, with world governing bodies often requiring additional documentation, constitutional compliance and formal approval before recognizing a national federation.

Stakeholders believe clarification from both the NSC and IFAF will be necessary to eliminate uncertainty as Nigeria continues preparations for future international competitions.

For now, the development presents an unusual scenario in which the federation recognized by Nigeria’s sports authorities is yet to be reflected in the official membership records of the sport’s global governing body.