American football can attract local, foreign sponsors to Nigeria, says Akeredolu

American football PHOTO: Pexels

• NAFA begins capacity-building clinic across the country 

President of the Nigeria American Football Association (NAFA), Babajide Akeredolu, has said that the country can get more local and foreign investors to contribute to the development of sports when American football eventually becomes one of the top sports in the nation.

Speaking in Lagos at the unveiling of the U-18 boys and girls national teams, Akeredolu said the discovery that Nigeria has the largest number of players of African descent playing in the National  Football League (NFL), the highest level of American Football, which is one of the richest team sports in the world, indicates that there are abundant talents across the federation that can make American football a money-spinning league in Nigeria.

Akeredolu, who was excited about the establishment of the first U-18 national team for Flag Football, said Nigeria’s participation in an international championship next year will boost international awareness of American football in Nigeria and also expose young secondary school players discovered in the country to a high level of competition in the sport.

He added that arrangements were in top gear to search for more talents in the sport across the country, saying that NAFA’s organisation of a vibrant American Football League is in the pipeline.

“NAFA has so far experienced fast and steady growth due to Nigerians’ acceptance and embrace of American Football.

“We are delighted that the organisation of American Football has finally brought the country into the multibillion-dollar industry, where Nigerians abroad are seen to be overachieving.

“An example is the fact that Nigeria has the largest number of players in the American