NFL, IFAF step up flag football drive in Ghana ahead of Olympic debut
The National Football League (NFL), in partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), has intensified efforts to grow flag football in Africa with a four-day development programme held in Accra, bringing together teachers, coaches and sports officials from across the continent.
The initiative, which forms part of a broader global expansion strategy for the sport, combined grassroots training with high-performance coaching, reflecting a coordinated push to build sustainable development pathways ahead of flag football’s debut at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The programme opened with a two-day teachers’ clinic in Ghana, where about 40 educators were trained under the NFL Flag initiative. The sessions focused on equipping participants with practical coaching skills, introducing the fundamentals of the game and developing frameworks to establish flag football programmes in schools.
Organisers said the approach was designed to empower teachers to take ownership of the sport’s development at the grassroots level, ensuring that young people gain access to structured training within the education system.
The second phase of the programme expanded into a continental coaching clinic, drawing participants from more than 10 African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Senegal. The sessions centred on technical development, knowledge-sharing and collaboration among national federations.
International coaches and IFAF representatives led practical drills and tactical sessions, while participants exchanged ideas on how to strengthen coaching systems and scale participation within their respective countries.
The clinics also highlighted the growing link between flag football and the Olympic movement, with the involvement of a retired Olympic sprinter from Sierra Leone, underscoring the sport’s increasing appeal to elite athletes.
NFL International Flag Football Development Manager Afia Law said the initiative was part of a long-term commitment to expanding access to the sport across Africa.
“Flag football continues to create new opportunities for athletes and communities around the world,” she said. “Through this work in Ghana, we’re proud to support local educators and coaches while also partnering with federations across Africa to expand access to the game and build sustainable pathways for growth across the region.”
IFAF Sport Manager Lars Carlsen also stressed the importance of partnerships in accelerating the sport’s development globally.
“Programs like this demonstrate the power of collaboration in driving the global development of flag football,” he said. “By working together with partners like the NFL, we are able to support national federations, strengthen coaching structures and continue building momentum for the sport as it grows internationally and moves toward its Olympic future.”
Flag football is currently one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, with participation spanning more than 100 countries. In Africa, the sport has seen increasing uptake in recent years, driven by structured development programmes and rising interest among young athletes.
Officials say the Accra programme builds on ongoing efforts to deepen participation, strengthen coaching capacity and position African countries to compete on the global stage as the sport continues its rapid international expansion.
