NAFA launches ‘One ball, one flag, our future’ initiative
The Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA), in a landmark collaboration with the Cleveland Browns’ BROWNS NIGERIA and NFL FLAG, is proud to announce the upcoming launch of the “ONE BALL, ONE FLAG, OUR FUTURE” initiative in April 2026.
This ambitious program is designed to catalyze the growth of American football across Nigeria by providing critical equipment and resources to thousands of young athletes.
As part of this initiative, earlier announced at the NAFA FAME AWARDS night, the Cleveland Browns will donate over 2,000 American footballs, while NFL FLAG has committed to providing 5,000 flag kits. These resources will be distributed to a broad network of beneficiaries, including secondary schools, Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) coordinators, Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) schools and existing flag football leagues and Tackle Football Teams nationwide.
“Our current five-year plan aims to reach over 4,000 secondary schools, yet this ambitious target represents less than 4% of the secondary schools across Nigeria,” stated Babajide Akeredolu, President of NAFA.
“To truly transform the sporting landscape and provide every child with an opportunity to play, we need significant help to expand our reach to at least 20% of secondary schools over this same period. ‘ONE BALL, ONE FLAG, OUR FUTURE’ is the catalyst we need to bridge that gap.”
A Legacy of Partnership
The collaboration between NAFA and NFL FLAG dates back to 2023, following several high-profile milestones that have solidified Nigeria’s influence in the global American football ecosystem. Key highlights include, initial collaboration established to develop grassroots flag football with NAFA coordinating the first ever U13 tournament for Flag Football in Nigeria in 2023 and the successful execution of the NFL expansion event in Nigeria where NAFA coordinated a mini U13 school tournament for the NFL in 2024 among others.
“We, the Cleveland Browns, are so proud to partner with NAFA to help elevate the sport of American football in Nigeria,” said Nayeli, Cultural and International Marketing Coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.
“As we enter the Nigerian market, we set goals to help develop the sport, build the Browns fandom, and celebrate the vibrant community of Nigeria. We saw the impactful work of NAFA, and we knew we had to connect with them.” adds, Matt, Director of Marketing for the Cleveland Browns.
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