Jul 21, 2023 - 05:01
By guardian.ng

16 teams set for NSSFFL secondary schools national final

American football PHOTO: Pexels

Sixteen teams have qualified for the national finals of the Nigeria Secondary Schools Flag Football League (NSSFFL), which will hold from July 31 to August 5 at the Sunshine Stadium, Akure, Ondo State.

After the Lagos State preliminaries last week, two four teams (two girls and two boys) qualified to represent the state at the national finals.

The schools are Keke Senior High School and Ikeja Grammar School in the boys’ category, as well as Army Cantonment Girls School and Ikeja Grammar School will play in the girls’ class.

Ahead of the competition, Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) said the 16 teams are coming from seven states, including Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and FCT.

According to NAFA Secretary, Lawrence Ojaideh, the NSSFFL has helped in grooming and discovering more young talents in flag football in the country.

“The finals of the NSSFFL will be tough because more talents and schools have embraced the sport after the first edition. NAFA is working hard to develop flag football at the grassroots and also build a strong national team by discovering talented young players,” he said.

NAFA last week appointed Jeff Chidera Okudah, a Nigerian-born American football star, who plays as corner back for Atlanta Falcons in the American National Football league (NFL), as its ambassador.

Okudah, who spoke from his base in America on his induction as NAFA ambassador via zoom, said he would help develop the sport in Nigeria and also encourage other Nigerian born players in America to join in promoting and sponsoring the sport.