The Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) have officially unveiled Season four of the Nigerian Secondary School Flag Football League (NSSFFL) during a press conference held at Haven Tower, Agidingbi, Ikeja, on Thursday, Bold Sports reports.
The event marked the formal kickoff of a new chapter in Nigeria’s fast-growing grassroots sports initiative, aimed at promoting teamwork, leadership, and youth development through flag football.
The press conference was attended by NAFA Secretary General and official spokesperson, Mr. Lawrence Ojaideh, who delivered the association’s official statement. Also in attendance was Mr. Abiodun Bello, representing the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) President, Mrs. Olabisi Joseph; Mr. Abe Oluwatobi, one of the league’s major coordinators; and Mr. Samson Akapo, who represented Mrs. Oluyomi Olaide Oluwasanmi, the School Sports Director of the Lagos State Sports Commission.
This season will see participation from 11 states, including Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Benue, Kwara, Rivers, Ogun, Cross River, Abuja, and Lagos, who are the defending champions in both the male and female categories. The preliminary rounds will run from Monday, October 27 to Thursday, November 6, across the participating states, before the national finals.
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The preliminaries will begin with Ogun State on Monday, October 27, followed by Oyo and Ekiti on Tuesday, October 28, Ondo and Rivers on Wednesday, October 29, and Akwa Ibom and Kwara on Thursday, October 30. The action will continue in Abuja and Lagos on Tuesday, November 4, with Benue and Lagos wrapping up the preliminaries on Thursday, November 6.
Following the opening remarks, Mr. Ojaideh presented the official press statement on behalf of NAFA, highlighting the league’s remarkable growth since its inception, new developmental pathways for young athletes, and the organisation’s vision of positioning Nigeria as the continental hub for flag football.
“It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you all to the official press conference marking the commencement of Season four of the Nigerian Secondary Schools Flag Football League — a grassroot sporting program powered by the Nigerian American Football Association, that continues to redefine the landscape of school sports development in Nigeria through the through the values of The HUDDLE Way: Health, Unity, Diversity, Development, Livelihood, and Entertainment,” he said.
“Today, we proudly reaffirm that the NSSFFL is the largest gathering of flag‑football enthusiasts in Africa, a continental hub for youth engagement, sports education, and athletic discovery that has placed Nigeria at the forefront of the sport’s growth on the continent.”
“When the NSSFFL first kicked off as a pilot initiative in Lagos in 2022, our vision was simple yet bold — to introduce a new sport to Nigerian secondary schools in a way that inspires teamwork, leadership, and strategic thinking. Three years later, that vision has grown into a national movement with structured participation across multiple states, giving thousands of young Nigerians a chance to learn, play, and dream through the game of flag football.”
“From that humble beginnings in 2022 with approximately 900 athletes across both male and female divisions, the NSSFFL has grown significantly over the seasons. Today, the league engages roughly 6,000 participants — making it a central convergence point for flag football enthusiasts across Nigeria and reinforcing its status as Africa’s largest school-level flag football competition.”
“Looking ahead to Season 4 (2025), participation is projected to surpass 1,300 student-athletes across 11 active states, each fielding a minimum of ten competing teams — a strong testament to the League’s continued growth and stability. This trajectory of growth — from hundreds to thousands — validates our approach and underlines the urgency of creating pathways, sustaining infrastructure, and deepening access across more states and communities.”
“A particularly important evolution for this season is the introduction of a clear developmental pipeline for our student‑athletes. Historically, when players completed their time in the NSSFFL, they often faced the question: “Where do I go next?” — especially in states without a senior league infrastructure.”
“Today, we are proud to announce the upcoming launch of the Nigeria Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL), in partnership with the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA), which will ensure these talented young athletes — male and female — continue their flag‑football journey at the tertiary level. By providing the pathway from secondary to university, polytechnic or specialised college, we are transforming participation into progression, and potential into performance.”
“Moreover, the NSSFFL is already delivering measurable outcomes. Some of our former secondary‑school players have progressed to the national teams, and proudly represented Nigeria at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championship — where our men’s and women’s teams both secured gold medals. This achievement is a testament to the investment we are making at the youth level, and proof that school‑based flag‑football can serve as a genuine feeder into international competition.”
“A major highlight of this season is our continued collaboration with the NSSF — a partnership that remains foundational to the success of the NSSFFL. Through the NSSF’s support, we have been able to ensure structured participation, legitimacy, and alignment with national school‑sports policy. We sincerely appreciate the leadership and vision of the Federation in helping nurture young sporting talent across Nigeria.”
“We also take this moment to recognize and appreciate our growing network of partners and sponsors whose support powers this vision. Our gratitude goes to: Browns Nigeria (in partnership with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL) — whose global link gives us access to expertise, international best practices, and visibility.”
“Unique Open University — advancing educational access for our student-athletes. Allez Charis Gas Limited — an oil and gas company passionate about driving youth empowerment and infrastructure support. Zibwe — enabling logistics and grassroots coordination. Stretford Hill Limited — a construction company committed to sport-brand development, and impactful corporate social responsibility initiatives that uplift youth and underserved communities. And our developmental outreach partner, the Gridiron Gems initiative — whose flagship focus is female participation in flag football, mentorship of coaches and referees, and leadership training.”
“In particular, the Gridiron Gems initiative ties directly into the NSSFFL’s female‑division ambitions. By creating pathways for young women through the female division of NSSFFL and beyond, Gridiron Gems ensures that female secondary‑school flag‑football athletes not only get to play, but can continue, lead and grow in the sport. That synergy between our NSSFFL platform and the Gridiron Gems pipeline reflects a holistic approach to talent development, equity and sustainability.”
“As we prepare to kick off Season 4, we remain deeply committed to creating access, exposure, and mentorship opportunities for young Nigerians — making sure that every child who picks up a flag has a clear pathway to grow — whether that growth is in education, sport, leadership or community life.”
“To our media partners, we value your role in amplifying this story. Your voice helps us reach the next generation of players, parents and schools who will keep this vision alive.”
“Together, we are building more than a league — we are shaping a movement. A movement that shows the world that Nigeria is ready for American football.”
“And as this movement grows, it continues to unite thousands of young athletes, schools, coaches, and communities across the nation — forming what has truly become the heartbeat of flag football in Africa. From Lagos to Kaduna, from Port Harcourt to Abuja, the NSSFFL has become a rallying point for dreams, discipline, and discovery — a living testament that when given the right platform, the Nigerian youth will always rise to the occasion.”
“So, as we embark on this new season, we do so with renewed purpose — to teach, to empower, to inspire, and to keep expanding the boundaries of what’s possible for this sport on African soil.”
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