Nigeria embraces Wheelchair American football

A landmark Wheelchair American Football exhibition was hosted in Lagos, Nigeria recently, with plans underway to establish a wheelchair American football super league in the West African nation.

Oliver Ochieng, Marabou News Agency

The American Football for Elite Development (AFEDEV) is in advance talks to establish a Wheelchair American Football Super League in Nigeria.

This is after the recent successful hosting of the country’s landmark Wheelchair American Football Exhibition in Lagos.

Supported by the U.S Consulate in Nigeria and other partners, the four team exhibition event held at the Basketball Court of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) was well attended with stakeholders affirming support toward the growth and sustainability of the initiative.

Players and officials expressed excitement with the opportunity to showcase their talent, while commending AFEDEV’s efforts to develop the sport in Nigeria.

“Keep training, keep recruiting friends that you know are also talented and eventually develop enough knowledge to be a coach yourself because that is what it takes to spread the sport. Even after retirement you can still stay with it, create your own team, coach your own players,” said coach Dominik Muller, one of the trainers who attended the event.

AFEDEV founder Lawrence Ojaideh hailed the athletes for commitment, dedication, vision, skills and determination displayed during the one-day event, adding that more is in store for them.

“We want to set up a league to enable these athletes to compete at the highest level. A league that will prepare them for greater opportunities. That league may play a season or two in a year, that is being finalized by the board as we speak. And that season will start from 2027. So, we believe that what has happened today will make them look ahead towards that league to be able to show their skills,” he stated.

Christiana Olowolagba, one of the players, was amazed by what she saw during the exhibition matches.

“Wow, wow, wow. It’s a lovely game. I never believed we could have that in Nigeria. Being the first American wheelchair basketball players in Nigeria is great. They don’t do jokes. The way I used to watch it in America, I thought it was something that is very hard for us to play,” the athlete said.

“When the Ables play, I’ve never seen the wheelchair playing it. This is my first time. So, when we have our coaches, they show us the game where wheelchair players do play wheelchair American football. So, I say that yes, we can do it.”

During the exhibition, Liberty Pioneers proved to be the best of competing quartets as they emerged winners defeating Atlantic Charger 10-3-in the decider.

Marabou News Agency

The post Nigeria embraces Wheelchair American football appeared first on Sports Network Africa.