logo
Nigeria target flag football berths at LA 2028 Olympics

Nigeria target flag football berths at LA 2028 Olympics

BBC News23-06-2025
Nigeria is targeting the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games after its men's and women's teams were both victorious at the inaugural African Flag Football Championship.The sport is a non-contact variant of American football, where players need to pull a flag off the person with the ball instead of tackling their opponent to the ground.Flag football will make its Olympic debut at LA 2028 and, as African champions, both Nigerian sides have earned direct qualification for next year's Flag Football World Championships.Oluwaseye Obatolu, the vice president of the Nigeria American Football Association (Nafa), described the nation's triumphs in Egypt on Saturday as "deeply symbolic"."It was a moment of immense pride to be the first [African] nation, both men and women, to qualify for the World Championships," Obatolu told BBC Sport Africa."Our focus now is clear - we are not just attending the World Championships, we're going to compete. Our eyes are firmly set on Los Angeles 2028."The first African Flag Football Championship, which was organised by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), featured a total of 11 teams from eight countries across the continent.
'Validation' for players
The championship was the first in IFAF's new continental series for 2025 and a pivotal moment on the road to the sport's Olympic debut.Nigeria's men edged a thrilling final in Cairo, winning 13-12 to claim gold over the hosts.In the women's tournament, the West Africans delivered a commanding performance to defeat Morocco 26-12 to secure the title."For the players, it's a validation of years of dedication, often in the shadows without recognition," Obatolu added."This isn't just a win, it's the beginning of a movement for flag football in Africa."Tunisia and Egypt earned the bronze medal in the men's and women's tournaments respectively."To Nigeria American Football Association - your pride, effort and spirit led to this outstanding result," IFAF president Pierre Trochet said in a post on social media."Africa can be proud. Your champions will carry our community high!"
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ex-UFC star Francis Ngannou tormented by 'sleepless nights', as he details what really happened in fatal motorcycle accident with 17-year-old girl
Ex-UFC star Francis Ngannou tormented by 'sleepless nights', as he details what really happened in fatal motorcycle accident with 17-year-old girl

Daily Mail​

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Ex-UFC star Francis Ngannou tormented by 'sleepless nights', as he details what really happened in fatal motorcycle accident with 17-year-old girl

Francis Ngannou has opened up about the torment he is suffering since his involvement in the death of a 17-year-old girl. The MMA and boxing star crashed into Brigitte Ntsama while riding his motorbike in Yaounde, Cameroon on Easter weekend earlier this year. He rushed her to Yaounde General Hospital with what he says was a broken leg and the teenager later died following complications in surgery, according to the 38-year-old. Ngannou broke his silence about the accident in May, saying he was helping the family of Ntsama and sending his condolences. He's now spoken at length about the tragedy, telling the Ariel Helwani show: 'I was going by my mother's place and I get to this, it was like on the boulevard, and I saw this girl trying to cross the street. 'But I noticed that she didn't look, because I saw her and it was like a three-way lane side of road, but I noticed that she didn't see. I wanted to go behind her because she was walking fast. Problem is that last minute she turned around and she saw me and she froze there. 'I had a few seconds, and I hit her with the left side of my motorcycle because I was almost past, and I was like 300 yards away from a police station. I didn't even fall off the motorcycle, but she fell, so I'm like, "Should I go report this?" But she's laying on the floor. I parked my motorcycle, go there, carry her, put her in the taxi, and then follow her to the hospital. 'We get in the hospital. I took her outside. She has a tibia fracture, but I took her out of the car, and she was aware now and in pain, which was a good sign.' Ngannou went on: 'I took her to the emergency room. They reassured me everything is good, but I still stayed there for like two hours until people came. 'I left, was reassured that everything was good. I mean, not good because she's hurt, but I'm like, "Oh, it wasn't the worst. It could have been worse than this." 'And every day they were telling me, I was having the follow-up like, "Oh, she's good." Because the same night, her family came there, and she was good for the next two days, and they were prepping her surgery. 'She went for the surgery and never woke up. And just like that [she died]. I'm like, "How come? What's happened?"' Ngannou has endured a huge amount of heartbreak over the last couple of years. His 15-month-old son Kobe died from a brain malformation almost 12 months before the motorbike accident and he admitted he is having trouble sleeping. 'So, now over sleepless nights, dealing with all this, thinking of what you could have done, or should have done, how could you, what would you have done to avoid that, it's a really bad feeling', he reflected. Ngannou says the family of Ntsama recognised that although he was at least partially at fault for the traffic accident, he paid for medical expenses and repeatedly showed care for the victim in the aftermath. The fighter added: 'They (the family) even say, "okay, we know that he was in the accident, but we saw how you fight for our daughter."' The former UFC heavyweight champion - who has since lost in the boxing ring against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua - was last in action in October 2024. He knocked out Renan Ferreira and is now in exploratory talks to jump back to boxing and face Deontay Wilder.

Dodgers fans turn on star man after dreadful error leads to humiliating Colorado Rockies loss
Dodgers fans turn on star man after dreadful error leads to humiliating Colorado Rockies loss

Daily Mail​

time5 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Dodgers fans turn on star man after dreadful error leads to humiliating Colorado Rockies loss

Los Angeles Dodgers fans have slammed one of their star players, Teoscar Hernandez, after his critical error lead to a loss to the worst team in baseball, the Colorado Rockies. With Monday night's game tied, a bloop fly ball was hit to right field, with Hernandez in the best position to make the play, as he was running into the path of where it would land. Hernandez was a step slow as the ball hit off his glove and fell to the turf, giving the Rockies a runner in scoring position, which eventually crossed home plate to hand the Dodgers a loss. 'We were playing no doubles, it's a big outfield, I was really far,' Hernandez said after the loss. 'I tried to make the play, I didn't. it came off my glove, unfortunately. Things happen. I just gotta wash it and keep moving forward.' The damage was already done, as Los Angeles holds a small lead in the NL West standings, two games above the San Diego Padres. Fans rallied against Hernandez, with the team hoping to repeat as World Series champions in 2025, with some pointing to his playing in that postseason run as the last redeeming action for the Dodgers star. A collection of social-media messages from LA Dodgers fans turning on Teoscar Hernandez 'Absolutely inexcusable Dodgers lost on the very next at bat because of this Teoscar Hernandez should not spend another inning playing right field the rest of the season,' one Dodgers fan said. 'The Dodgers WILL NOT win a World Series with Teoscar in right field,' a second person stated. 'Teoscar Hernandez will have a 10 minute video compilation of him letting balls drop 1 foot in front of him by the end of the season,' a third fan added. 'Just inexcusable effort from Teoscar in RF these last 2 games and pretty much all season. This effort will cost your team games, like it did tonight, and shouldn't be tolerated, especially during a postseason race,' one final supporter concluded. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also spoke out on Hernandez's play after the loss, seemingly frustrated with his right fielder. 'He's gotta get better out there,' Roberts said. 'There's just no (other) way to put it. I know there's effort, it's not a lack of effort. We just kind of got to get better.' Moments after the game ended, Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani was seen visibly upset about the loss in the dugout, with it unknown if he directly blames Hernandez for the defeat to the 89-loss team.

Razak Omotoyossi dead at 39: Former Ligue 1 star and African football legend passes away
Razak Omotoyossi dead at 39: Former Ligue 1 star and African football legend passes away

The Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Sun

Razak Omotoyossi dead at 39: Former Ligue 1 star and African football legend passes away

TRIBUTES have poured in for former Metz star Razak Omotoyossi, who has died aged 39. The Beninese football icon's passing was announced on Tuesday. 1 And the football world paid tribute to Benin's second all-time leading goalscorer after his tragic passing became public knowledge. One footie fan wrote: " Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Razak Omotoyossi. "My thoughts are with his family (especially wife Bose Alao Omotoyossi & his children) friends and former teammates at this terribly sad time. "Top guy, fantastic footballer who's been through a lot since 2015." Another said: "May God grant him eternal rest." And another said: "A gifted goalscorer and passionate servant of the game, his impact on African football will never be forgotten. "Rest in peace, champion." The cause of Omotoyossi's death has yet to be revealed. Omotoyossi, who was born in Nigeria but represented neighbouring Benin, played for 15 clubs during his career before calling it a day as a professional footballer in 2021. Helsingborg, Al-Nassr, Metz and Zamalek were most high-profile teams the late striker paid for. And a number of his old sides paid tribute to him upon learning of his untimely death. Helsingborgs' wrote in a statement on X: "Helsingborgs IF is in mourning. "We have been informed that our former player, Razak Omotoyossi, has passed away at the age of 39. "Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Razak." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store