Lagos to Host NAFA U13 Flag Football Invitational

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Lagos will host Nigeria’s next generation of young athletes as the Nigeria American Football Association prepares to stage the U13 Flag Football Invitational, a national youth tournament aimed at strengthening grassroots sports development and expanding participation in school athletics.

The tournament is scheduled for April 2, 2026, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, popularly known as Onikan Stadium, and is expected to bring together student-athletes from participating schools across the country in a structured co-educational competition.

Organisers say the invitational forms part of broader efforts to integrate flag football into Nigeria’s school sports system while creating early pathways for talent discovery and athletic development. Flag football, a non-contact version of American football has been gaining attention globally as a youth-friendly sport that promotes teamwork, agility, and strategic thinking.

NAFA noted that the competition is designed not only as a sporting contest but also as a platform to encourage discipline, leadership, and confidence among young participants. By focusing on athletes under the age of 13, the association aims to build a sustainable grassroots pipeline that can support the long-term growth of the sport in Nigeria.

The event is being delivered with support from the Nigeria Federation for American Football, the emerging governing body overseeing the development of American football in the country. NAFA said collaboration between stakeholders signals a renewed push to provide structure, governance, and strategic direction for the sport’s expansion.

Key partners supporting the invitational include Browns Nigeria, the Nigeria School Sports Federation, the Lagos State Sports Commission, the International Federation of American Football, and NFL FLAG. According to organisers, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to revitalising school sports and creating more opportunities for youth participation through organised competitions.

The growth of flag football at the school level has already begun to show promise. A recent milestone was recorded when Green Springs School Lekki represented Nigeria at the maiden NFL FLAG U-13 African Championship held in Egypt last year, highlighting the increasing competitiveness of Nigerian school teams on the continental stage.

Stakeholders say such progress underscores the importance of sustained investment in grassroots initiatives and structured tournaments that expose young athletes to higher levels of competition.

NAFA added that hosting the invitational marks another step toward building awareness and participation in flag football while reinforcing the role of school sports as a tool for youth development. The association believes consistent collaboration between sports bodies, schools, and development partners will help lay the foundation for a stronger sporting culture driven by early engagement.

The tournament is expected to attract students, coaches, sports administrators, and youth development advocates, as Lagos continues to position itself as a hub for emerging sports and grassroots athletic programmes in Nigeria.