NFL and IFAF host flag football development clinic in Ghana

Flag football, which will make its Olympic debut at LA 2028, continues its rise in Africa, with a coach education and officiating clinic hosted by the National Football League (NFL) and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) in Accra, Ghana, from April 11-13.

Fifty coaches and officials from Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda attended the event.

They took tuition from expert coaches, including Pittsburgh flag football league founder Chris Curd, Morocco women’s flag football head coach Fouzia Madhouni, former NFL Europe player and German coach Max con Garnier, and international referee Cédric Castaing.

Flag football boasts approximately 20 million players in 100 countries. Since 2023, participation in the non-contact form of American football in Africa has surged, with Egypt and Nigeria seeing increases of 149% and 85% respectively. In Nigeria, the national federation’s outreach program say they have already engaged more than 13,000 young people.

“The NFL and IFAF are committed to continuing to develop and grow the game of flag football in Africa,” said Vice President, Flag Football at the NFL Stephanie Kwok.

“Creating meaningful educational pathways for coaches and officials delivering flag across Africa, is a critical part of the game at every level on the continent. The coach education and officiating clinic will create a powerful legacy for both the elite and grassroots levels of the game, as we build to the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and beyond.”

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