NFL begin African Camp in Lagos to scout for talents

Posted : 18 June 2024

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The National Football League (NFL), the biggest sport in the U.S., has opened a scouting program tagged “Africa Camp,” which is ongoing at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos Island.

The scouting program hosted by the NFL is aimed at discovering young Nigerian talents who are interested in pursuing a career in the NFL.

The program has top NFL players from the U.S. and other countries assembled in Nigeria to also encourage young Nigerians to join the world’s highest-grossing sport.

Will Stevens, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy, commended the impact of Nigerians living in the U.S. on the U.S. economy and sports.

Stevens, in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the National Football League (NFL) Africa Camp in Lagos, said that the Americans were ecstatic about discovering young talents in Nigeria.

Stevens also claimed that many NFL players of Nigerian descent were doing well in the sport, hence the need to get more and give them the opportunity.

“Nigerians are impactful in the U.S.; we have over 750,000 Nigerian Americans, many of whom are the most educated and have high-income earning members among any diaspora group in the U.S.

“The ties between the diaspora and the U.S. economy will build more economic and cultural relationships that thrive between both countries—the U.S. and Nigeria.

“One of the good things is that the NFL is targeting Africa for talents. We have done this in Ghana, South Africa, and now, Nigeria.

“There are over 140 NFL players of African descent, either born in Africa or their parents are Africans,” he said.

Stevens also stated that the U.S. Consulate in Nigeria was happy to be part of the talent discovery in Nigeria, which would have great benefits including scholarships to study in the best American universities.

“It’s so great to have the NFL from the U.S. host what they call Africa Camp here in Lagos. We have amazing talents across Nigeria that can rise to the challenge.

“It is an amazing opportunity for the NFL to get and discover some of the very best players in Africa and Nigeria to play in the NFL.

“NFL happens to be the largest sport in the world in terms of revenue, surpassing the Premier League and European League. The NFL’s revenue generation is massive.

“There are over 50 players on each team, or 32 teams in total, so each team has lots of athletes in each position,” he said.

According to Stevens, aside from the economic benefits for the NFL players, they can also obtain scholarships to study in U.S. universities.

“Most of the NFL players play in college, while many are also on scholarships to get free university degrees and play for four years in college before they move to the NFL.

“This gives them lots of opportunities as African students can come and study in the U.S. and get their degrees. We have athletes who are studying in the best universities in the U.S.

“They are enjoying the scholarships made possible by the NFL because it provides a unique opportunity,” he said.

The Africa Camp, taking place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, is open to potential athletes, whereby Nigerians and other Africans are taught the rudiments of the NFL.

Some of the drills include Broad Jump, Vertical Jump, 40-Yard Dash, and Three Cones, among others.

The instructors include Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Bobby Okereke, and Prince Tega Wanogho, who are of Nigerian descent, among others.

NFL begin African Camp in Lagos to scout for talents

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