Nigeria withdraws from World Flag Football Championships in Germany over visa issues

Flag football is a non-contact variation of American football in which players wear flags attached to their belts. Instead of tackling opponents physically, defenders stop plays by pulling off those flags. Nigeria had earned its place at the world championships after both the men’s and women’s teams won their respective titles at the 2025 IFAF Africa Flag continental championships.

Despite efforts to resolve the travel difficulties, the teams were ultimately unable to obtain the required visas. IFAF said it made “significant efforts behind the scenes to explore every possible avenue to enable the teams to travel to Germany”, but those efforts failed to produce a solution.

“Regrettably, all parties were informed this morning that the visas would not be issued in time for the Championships,” the statement reads. The federation expressed particular disappointment for the players and officials who had qualified for the tournament as Africa’s champions.

“Our thoughts are first and foremost with the athletes and team staff, who have worked hard to earn their place at these Championships as the inaugural IFAF African Flag Football Champions. They were looking forward to proudly representing Nigeria and making their debut appearance on the world stage.

Because Nigeria withdrew so close to the competition, reserve teams from the 2025 African championships cannot be brought in as replacements. “Due to the timing of the withdrawal, it is not possible to replace the Nigerian men’s and women’s teams with the respective reserve teams from the 2025 IFAF African Flag Football Championships. In accordance with the Competition Regulations, teams scheduled to play Nigeria in the group stage will be awarded an automatic victory.”

The withdrawal means Nigeria will miss the opportunity to compete on the global stage despite qualifying as continental champions.

However, the setback does not end the country’s hopes of reaching the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. “While Nigeria will not take part in Düsseldorf, the nation’s pathway to the Olympic Games LA28 remains open. The Nigerian men’s and women’s teams will have the opportunity to compete at the 2027 IFAF Continental Championships, where a top-two finish would secure qualification to the Olympic Q-Series, the final stage of qualification for the LA28 Olympic Games.”

Nigeria will therefore have another opportunity in 2027 to continue its qualification campaign, with a top-two finish at the continental championships putting both teams on the route to the Olympic qualification series.