NAIROBI - South Africa has returned from the NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship in Nairobi with more than just medals. The two-day tournament showcased the country's growing strength in flag football while highlighting the sport's rapid rise across Africa on the road to its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Competing against Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt, South Africa fielded men's, women’s, and Under-13 national teams. The men's side fought back to claim third place, while the U13 team also secured bronze. Although the women's team finished fifth, they made history as South Africa's first national women's flag football team to compete on the continental stage.
The tournament, hosted by the NFL, the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and the Kenyan Federation of American Football (KFAF), forms part of the pathway to Olympic qualification, with next year's continental championships serving as a key stepping stone towards the World Championships and ultimately Los Angeles 2028.
NFL Head of International Flag Football Development Afia Law says the Olympic dream is driving the sport's growth around the world.
"Flag football is going to be an Olympic sport, and that allows our athletes to compete on the highest level in the world. These events go a long way in building that pathway to the Olympics.”
For South Africa's U13 squad, the journey extended far beyond the scoreboard. The team, made up of players from the Eldorado Park Eagles through the Project Pick Six youth development programme, represented a community where many young people face poverty, crime and limited opportunities. For many of the players, travelling to Kenya marked their first time leaving South Africa and even boarding an aeroplane.
Project Pick Six, run by Come Back Mission, uses flag football alongside mentorship, education and life-skills programmes to keep young people "in sport and out of court", providing safe spaces and opportunities for children who may otherwise never experience international competition.
With two bronze medals, a historic first for the women's team and a new generation of talent gaining invaluable international experience, South Africa left Nairobi with growing belief that its flag football journey is only just beginning. As the sport builds momentum across Africa, the path to Los Angeles 2028 is becoming increasingly real for athletes dreaming of representing their country on the Olympic stage.
Georgia Cartwright filed this report for eNCA.