Nigeria Withdraw From World Flag Football Championships In Germany Over Visa Issues

Nigeria’s men’s and women’s flag football teams will not participate in the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany, after visa problems prevented them from travelling.

The withdrawal was announced on Monday in a joint statement by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), Nigeria’s National Sports Commission and the Nigerian Federation of American Football.

Flag football is a non-contact version of American football. Instead of tackling opponents, players stop them by pulling flags attached to their belts.

Nigeria had qualified for the world championships after both its men’s and women’s teams won their respective titles at the 2025 IFAF Africa Flag Football Championships.

However, IFAF said it made “significant efforts behind the scenes to explore every possible avenue to enable the teams to travel to Germany”, but it was to no avail.

“Regrettably, all parties were informed this morning that the visas would not be issued in time for the Championships,” the statement reads.

“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.

“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.”

“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.”

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