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Nigeria’s Under-13 flag football team has emerged champions of the 2026 NFL FLAG Africa Continental Championship in Nairobi, Kenya, defeating some of Africa’s strongest emerging teams to lift the continental trophy and further underline the country’s growing influence in the sport.
The historic triumph comes as flag football prepares to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, providing a major boost to Nigeria’s long-term ambition of becoming a global force in the discipline.
For the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA), the title represents another milestone in its sustained investment in grassroots development and school-based programmes aimed at identifying and nurturing young talents for international competition.
Reacting to the achievement, NAFA Vice President (Administration), Nancy Damhindi, described the victory as a clear indication that the association’s youth development strategy is yielding positive results.
“I was filled with immense pride because this is exactly what NAFA set out to achieve, creating meaningful opportunities for everyone within Nigeria’s American football ecosystem. This championship shows that we are not only creating opportunities but also growing the sport by preparing our young athletes to compete and succeed on the global stage. Seeing these children represent Nigeria and return home as African champions is incredibly rewarding.”
Damhindi added that the success of the Under-13 team reinforces NAFA’s long-term vision of building sustainable pathways for young athletes through grassroots development and increased international exposure.
Head coach of the victorious U-13 side, Kenny Nwankwo, said the triumph should serve as motivation for more Nigerian children to embrace the sport.
“I think this championship sets a foundation for others to build on. It shows that Nigerian children can compete with the best when they’re given the opportunity. I believe our youths are ready for the challenge and I hope this inspires many more young athletes to dream bigger and work even harder.”
One of the stars of the championship-winning team, Chima Chisom, expressed delight after helping Nigeria retain the title.
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“Winning back-to-back is my favourite part of the tournament. We had some really tough matches but we kept believing in ourselves. Winning gold for Nigeria is something we’ll never forget.”
Nigeria’s dominance in Nairobi extended beyond the youth competition as the NAFA Gems captured the women’s title, highlighting the association’s commitment to promoting women’s participation and expanding opportunities within the sport.
The women’s triumph reflects the steady progress of NAFA’s female development programme, which has focused on talent identification, quality coaching and regular international exposure.
Assistant coach of the women’s national team, Nneamaka Anyanwu, described the continental title as a major confidence boost ahead of future international engagements.
Team captain Anu Bello also believes the victory is evidence of the team’s steady improvement and will provide the motivation needed for their next challenge in Germany.
“This win shows how far we’ve come as a team. It’s proof that we’re improving and it gives us even more confidence as we prepare for Germany. We’re ready to keep winning and keep making Nigeria proud.”
NAFA also acknowledged the contributions of BrownsNigeria and Nigeria American Football Outreach (NAFO), whose continued support and investment in youth development have created opportunities for young Nigerian athletes to compete and excel on the continental stage.
The twin triumphs by the Under-13 team and the NAFA Gems have further cemented Nigeria’s status as one of Africa’s leading flag football nations while reinforcing the importance of sustained investment in grassroots development, quality coaching and structured competition as the country builds towards the sport’s Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.
