Nigeria’s national men’s and women’s flag football squads will not be able to attend the upcoming world championships in Germany, as confirmed by the International Federation of American Football on Monday. The teams faced visa challenges that hindered their participation in the tournament, which serves as the primary qualifying event for the sport’s Olympics debut at the LA28 Games.
Due to Nigeria’s absence, the teams scheduled to compete against Nigeria in the initial stages of the competition will receive automatic victories. The top two finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories, excluding the United States, will earn direct qualification spots for the 2028 Games. The U.S., as the reigning champions in both divisions, has already secured a spot as the host nation.
Despite missing the world championships, Nigeria still has an opportunity to secure a ticket to Los Angeles. A top-two placement at the forthcoming continental championship next year would enable them to advance to the final qualification round known as the “Olympic Q-Series.”
Six men’s and six women’s teams are set to compete at the Los Angeles Games. Efforts were made by IFAF, in collaboration with the National Sports Commission of Nigeria and the Nigerian Federation of American Football, to facilitate the teams’ travel arrangements to Germany. Unfortunately, it was confirmed this morning that the visa issuance process would not be completed in time for the championships.
IFAF has been actively promoting the sport in Africa in preparation for the 2028 Olympics, with Nigeria clinching victory in the inaugural IFAF African Flag Football Championships held in Cairo last year for both the men’s and women’s divisions. Nigeria also had a significant presence in the NFL last season, with 19 Nigerian-born players featuring in the league at the start of the 2025 season.