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IFAF Profiles Team Nigeria Ahead of World Flag Championships, Highlights Africa’s Sole Representative
With just weeks to the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has shone the spotlight on Nigeria, profiling the country’s men’s and women’s national teams as Africa’s only representatives at the global showpiece.
The feature, published on the IFAF official website under the title “IFAF World Flag 2026 Nation Profile: Nigeria,” celebrates Nigeria’s remarkable rise in international flag football after both the men’s and women’s national teams emerged champions at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championships held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2025.
The profile is accompanied by a celebratory image of Nigerian players proudly displaying their medals and continental trophies, capturing the historic moment that secured the country’s qualification for the world championships.
According to IFAF, Nigeria truly lived up to its reputation as the “Giant of Africa” by sweeping both titles at the continent’s first-ever championship.
The women’s national team claimed the African crown with a convincing 26-12 victory over Morocco, while the men’s team edged host nation Egypt 13-12 in a dramatic final to seal their place in Düsseldorf.
As the only African nation represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions, Nigeria will carry the continent’s hopes when the tournament begins in Germany in August.
The governing body also outlined the enormous challenge awaiting both teams.
Nigeria’s men’s national team has been drawn in a difficult group featuring world number two Austria, Asia champions Japan, and Canada, who finished third at the IFAF Americas Championships. Remarkably, the Nigerian men will face all three opponents for the first time in international competition.
The women’s national team faces an equally daunting assignment, opening its campaign against defending world champions the United States before taking on European bronze medalists Spain and Oceania champions Australia in one of the tournament’s toughest groups.
IFAF also identified two Nigerians expected to play key roles during the championship.
Quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh was named as the player to watch for the men’s national team, while dynamic receiver and rusher Esther Kalu was highlighted as one of the standout performers in the women’s squad.
The world governing body further acknowledged that Düsseldorf 2026 will mark a historic milestone for Nigeria, as both national teams prepare to make their debut at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships.
Nigeria becomes only the second African nation to compete at the global championship, following Cameroon’s historic appearance at the 2024 edition.
The IFAF profile also recognised the coaches leading Nigeria’s campaign, with Ephraim Fagha Faloughi in charge of the men’s national team and Anireju Oritsewehinmi Ayida leading the women’s squad.
The recognition from the world governing body represents another significant moment for Nigerian flag football, reflecting the country’s rapid rise from continental champions to one of the emerging nations to watch on the global stage.
With both national teams already concluding successful domestic preparation matches before departing for further training in Nairobi, Kenya, attention now shifts to Düsseldorf, where Nigeria will seek to justify the confidence shown by IFAF and demonstrate that its dominance in Africa can translate onto the world stage.
For Nigerian players and supporters alike, the official nation profile is more than just a tournament preview—it is international recognition of a journey that has transformed Nigeria into Africa’s standard-bearer in flag football and one of the sport’s fastest-rising forces.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned Sanusi Dankaka before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that he threatened to release nude photographs and videos of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf on Facebook.
Dankaka was brought before Justice Salim Ibrahim on Monday to answer a two-count charge relating to alleged cybercrime offences. He pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Following his plea, the court ordered that he be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja pending the commencement of his trial.
The case centres on allegations that Dankaka used his Facebook account, identified as Sanusi Dankaka Yahaya, to claim that he possessed nude photographs and videos of Governor Yusuf and threatened to make them public.
The DSS accused the defendant of publishing the alleged content in October 2026. The agency also alleged that other individuals, who have not been identified and remain at large, were involved in the alleged offences.
According to the charge sheet, the prosecution considers the alleged publications to be unlawful under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/699/2026, was filed on October 22 by the DSS prosecutor, Yusuf Afegbua.
In the first count, the agency alleged that Dankaka and others still at large used his Facebook page to publish malicious content while in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The prosecution said the defendant claimed to have nude videos and photographs of the Kano governor and threatened to release them to the public.
It argued that the alleged conduct amounted to an offence under Section 27(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law.
The second count focused on the alleged circulation of the same claims on Facebook.
The DSS accused Dankaka of knowingly publishing false information with the intention of causing annoyance, inconvenience, insult and injury to the governor’s person and reputation.
The agency said the alleged act was contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes Act, as amended.
However, the allegations have not been established in court. Dankaka pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution is expected to present its evidence during the trial.
When the matter was called on Monday, Afegbua informed the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment and that the prosecution was prepared to proceed.
The defendant’s lawyer, Kauna Penzin, also confirmed her readiness to proceed with the matter.
After the charges were read to Dankaka, he entered his plea of not guilty to both counts. The prosecution then requested a trial date to enable it to prove the allegations against him.
Afegbua also asked the court to order the defendant’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings. Penzin did not oppose the application.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently granted the request and adjourned the case until December 7 for the commencement of trial.
The remand order means Dankaka will remain in custody pending further proceedings, subject to any subsequent order of the court.
The next stage of the case is expected to focus on the prosecution’s evidence regarding the alleged Facebook publications, the claims made against the governor and the circumstances surrounding the reported threat to release the purported photographs and videos.
The court will also have to consider the evidence presented in support of the charges before determining whether the prosecution has established the alleged offences.
The DSS will have the opportunity to present its case when proceedings begin on December 7, while the defence will be able to challenge the prosecution’s evidence.
The court’s decision to remand the defendant does not amount to a finding of guilt. The final determination will depend on the evidence and arguments presented during the trial.
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has hinted that the 2027 general election might be postponed due to the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.
The Director General of NCDC, Jide Idris, said if Ebola spreads wide enough, the Nigerian government might need to postpone the 2027 general election.
The 2027 general election is scheduled to start in January and politicians vying for office have begun their campaigns.
While the country moves towards 2027, there has been an outbreak of Ebola cases in Nigeria, in the past few days.
However, Idris disclosed that no government will use Ebola as a political tool.
Featuring on Channels Television's Politics Today, he said: "We in the health sector did not use disease issues as a political weapon.
"We hope the election will not be postponed but if the thing gets wide enough that might be considered, as at now there is no need for that.
"This Ebola thing started in DRC a couple of months ago and we were tracking, they said for you to track again there is a possibility that it may get here due to our population movement, flight into this country, and ports of entry, yet it came, no government will use Ebola as a political weapon."
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