NFL to Host Africa Flag Football Championship in Kenya Featuring Five National Teams
The National Football League (NFL) will host the 2026 Africa NFL Flag Championship in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 9 to 11, bringing together national teams and youth athletes from five African countries for three days of competition, talent development, and grassroots engagement.
The championship marks the third edition of the continental event, following successful tournaments held in Nigeria in 2024 and Egypt in 2025. It reflects the NFL’s continued commitment to growing flag football across Africa ahead of the sport’s Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
For the first time, the tournament will feature official men’s and women’s national team competitions, with teams representing Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa.
Running alongside the senior tournament will be a youth competition involving under-13 mixed-gender teams from the same five countries. Each youth squad will consist of 10 players, providing young athletes with an opportunity to compete on an international stage while developing their skills.
The event has been organised in collaboration with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), which has authorised the participation of the national representative teams. It is also supported by the Kenyan Federation of American Football (KFAF), which has played a key role in hosting the tournament.
Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, is one of the fastest-growing sports globally and has been selected to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. NFL Flag serves as the league’s official youth and amateur flag football programme.
Brian Flinn, NFL Senior Vice President of Global Flag Football, said the rapid growth of the sport across Africa has been encouraging. He noted that the championship brings together elite athletes and emerging talent while demonstrating the pathway from grassroots participation to representing national teams in international competitions.
IFAF President Pierre Trochet said the federation and the NFL have worked closely to accelerate the growth of flag football across Africa at both grassroots and elite levels. He described the championship as an important opportunity for national teams to prepare for the upcoming IFAF African Continental Championships.
In addition to the tournament, the NFL will host an elite talent identification workout on July 11. Athletes from across Africa will have the opportunity to showcase their abilities before NFL scouts as part of the league’s NFL Africa programme.
The programme supports athlete development through initiatives such as the International Player Pathway (IPP) programme and the NFL Academy, helping talented African athletes pursue opportunities in American football on the global stage.
