Seye Obatolu, the vice president of the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA), says the association is fully committed to building a formidable Team Nigeria ahead of the upcoming African Flag Football Tournament in Egypt.
Speaking during the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, Gateway Games Ogun 2024, Obatolu reiterated NAFA’s ambition to develop a competitive squad capable of making the nation proud.
“Our expectation is to win and bring back the trophy to Nigeria,” Obatolu declared. “We’re preparing; we’ll be in camp for the next few weeks before we travel.”
Obatolu explained that the association has just concluded a two-month scouting and evaluation process, selecting top-performing athletes from various leagues across the country.
“We’ve just gone through a two-month process of selecting the players that we feel are ready to represent Nigeria,” he said. “Now, we enter another phase — teaching these players what is expected of them on the international stage.”
He stressed that NAFA’s focus on Flag Football is intentional, citing safety and accessibility, particularly for young and first-time players.
“There are many misconceptions about American Football being overly physical and tackle-focused. This is an opportunity to highlight the safer aspects of the sport,” Obatolu said. “Spectators will get to see these athletes in action while we also scout for fresh talent.”
He added that Flag Football aligns with NAFA’s broader vision to grow the sport in Nigeria.
“Tackle football is expensive. Helmets, pads, and protective gear cost between $2,000 and $3,000 to start,” he explained. “Flag Football only requires a ball and flags, making it much more accessible to schools and communities.”
With preparations in full swing, NAFA is confident that Nigeria will make a strong impression in Egypt and take a bold step toward global competitiveness in Flag Football.
