Nigeria’s male and female flag football squads will not participate in the upcoming world championships in Germany, as announced by the International Federation of American Football on Monday. The teams faced visa issues, leading to their exclusion from the tournament, which serves as the primary Olympic qualifier for the sport before its debut at the LA28 Games. Consequently, opposing teams scheduled to face Nigeria in the group stage will receive automatic victories in their matches.
The top two finishers in the men’s and women’s events, excluding the United States, will secure direct qualification for the 2028 Games. Given the U.S.’s status as the defending champions for both genders and as the Olympic hosts, they have already earned a spot in the competition. Despite this setback, Nigeria still has an opportunity to secure a place in Los Angeles. A top-two finish at the continental championship next year would enable them to advance to the final stage of qualification in the “Olympic Q-Series.”
Six men’s and six women’s teams are slated to compete at the Los Angeles Games. Efforts were made by IFAF, in collaboration with event partners and relevant authorities, to facilitate the Nigerian teams’ travel to Germany. However, it was confirmed this morning that the required visas would not be issued in time for the championships.
In recent years, IFAF has actively worked to promote the sport in Africa leading up to the 2028 Olympics. Nigeria showcased its prowess by clinching victory in the inaugural IFAF African Flag Football Championships in Cairo last year, triumphing in both the men’s and women’s categories. Notably, Nigeria boasted a significant presence in the NFL, with 19 Nigerian-born players on NFL rosters at the commencement of the 2025 season.