By Ayomide Otitoju
The National Football League, in partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), hosted a four-day series of flag football development clinics in Ghana, bringing together local educators, international coaches, and federation representatives to expand the sport across Africa.
The initiative began with a Ghana-focused teachers clinic, providing approximately 40 educators with resources and practical training to introduce and scale flag football in schools. Sessions included coaching frameworks, on-field drills, gameplay, and strategies for building sustainable school programs.
The final two days transitioned to an Africa Coaching Clinic, welcoming coaches and delegates from Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda. The program emphasized high-performance development, cross-border collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, with participation from a retired Olympic sprinter from Sierra Leone highlighting the sport’s connection to the upcoming Olympic debut in Los Angeles 2028.
“Flag football continues to create new opportunities for athletes and communities around the world,” said Afia Law, NFL International Flag Football Development Manager. “Through this work in Ghana, we’re proud to support local educators and coaches while also partnering with federations across Africa to expand access and build sustainable pathways for growth.”
Lars Carlsen, IFAF Sport Manager, added: “Programs like this demonstrate the power of collaboration in driving the global development of flag football. By working with partners like the NFL, we strengthen coaching structures and support national federations as the sport grows toward its Olympic future.”
Flag football, one of the fastest-growing sports globally, now has millions of players in over 100 countries. The clinics in Ghana are part of ongoing NFL and IFAF efforts to enhance grassroots access, high-performance development, and long-term pathways for athletes and coaches across Africa, reflecting the sport’s rapid growth on the continent.
