In the week after Easter, the NFL is taking a special look at Africa. A camp for talents will be held in Nairobi. Some current pros have also announced their attendance.

The NFL is now also increasingly looking at the southern hemisphere. After focusing mainly on Europe outside the USA in recent years, the world’s most profitable sports league now also wants to leave its footprints in Africa.

Since Easter Monday, a camp has therefore been held for six days in the Kenyan capital Nairobi to discover talents and to establish the non-contact variant Flag Football on the black continent. In a statement, the aim is to “[promote] the game at all levels across the continent. “

NFL Camp in Africa: 29 talents get to prove themselves

Brett Gosper, Head of NFL Europe & Africa, calls it a “strategic priority” to grow the NFL across the planet. He added: “We’re excited to expand NFL Africa into Kenya and create opportunities for the next generation of African athletes and fans to get involved in our sport.” American football, he said, offers a place for everyone.

A first step, 29 talents between the ages of 16 and 21 from Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in a three-day camp modelled on the NFL Combine.

If they are successful, they will be invited to the NFL International Combine, the NFL International Player Pathway Programme – which Jakob Johnson of the Las Vegas Raiders used as a springboard – or to the NFL Academy in the UK.

NFL invites to talent camp in Nairobi: current pros also taking part

The face of the event is Osi Umenyiora, who was a defensive end in the NFL between 2003 and 2014 and won the Super Bowl twice with the New York Giants. The Briton has Nigerian parents and acts as a leading ambassador for NFL Africa. The two-time Pro Bowler speaks of a “dream come true”.

Also on hand will be some of the more than 125 current players with African roots in the league, according to the NFL. Brian Asamoah of the Minnesota Vikings will represent Ghana, Arnold Ebiketie of the Atlanta Falcons will start for Cameroon, Paulson Adebo of the New Orleans Saints will represent Benin and Ikem Ekwonu of the Carolina Panthers and Emmanuel Ogbah of the Miami Dolphins will be on hand for Nigeria.

NFL wants to establish American football in Kenya

In addition to flag football, the programme also includes training for local coaches and the Kenyan American Football Association. The main aim is to develop the coaches so that they can pass on the sport throughout the country.

Last year, camps for talents, training in flag football and fan events were already held in Accra, the capital of Ghana. So, after Europe, the NFL also wants to cast a spell over Africa.