Nigerian media personality Chuey Chu discusses flag football’s rapid growth in Nigeria, its accessibility and the opportunity created by its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.

The rapid growth of flag football in Nigeria is creating a new sporting opportunity as the discipline prepares to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Nigerian media personality and sports enthusiast Oladotun Ochu, popularly known as Chuey Chu, believes the non-contact version of American football has an important advantage in Nigeria as it is easier and less expensive to establish.

“Flag is a lot easier,” Ochu said.

The International Olympic Committee confirmed flag football as one of five additional sports for the Los Angeles 2028 programme in 2023, with the discipline scheduled to make its Olympic debut alongside cricket, baseball/softball, lacrosse and squash.  

For Nigeria, the Olympic inclusion provides an international platform for a sport that is still developing its domestic infrastructure.

Ochu has first-hand experience of the sport’s evolution in the country. He said he was among the early Nigerians involved in promoting American football, including participation in what he described as the country’s first official game in Zaria about a decade ago and an early West African derby against an Ivorian side.

He now sees flag football developing at a faster pace.

The distinction between the two disciplines is significant. While American football involves extensive protective equipment and physical contact, flag football removes tackling from the game by requiring players to stop an opponent by pulling a flag attached to the ball carrier.

That difference can reduce some of the financial and logistical demands associated with establishing a traditional American football programme.

Ochu said the sport is already attracting both male and female participants in Nigeria, suggesting that its growth could extend beyond the existing American football community.

Ochu believes Nigeria can learn from the American collegiate sports model, where universities provide structured sporting opportunities alongside academic requirements.

He argued that the combination of education and sport offers an avenue for developing athletes while maintaining academic progression.

That model could become increasingly relevant as flag football moves towards its Olympic debut.

The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that flag football will make its first Olympic appearance at LA28, giving athletes from emerging programmes an opportunity to compete on one of the world’s largest sporting stages.  

For Nigeria, the challenge will be converting growing interest into a sustainable development structure.

That would require stronger grassroots programmes, trained coaches, organised competitions, suitable facilities and pathways linking young players to elite competition.

Ochu, who moved from civil engineering into media and event presentation, also said he is considering investment in sports media and sporting talent.

His journey reflects the broader possibilities around emerging sports: participation does not have to end with playing, but can extend into broadcasting, events, management, investment and content creation.

As flag football moves closer to Los Angeles, Nigeria’s opportunity may therefore extend beyond simply producing players.

The sport’s Olympic status could provide a platform for a wider ecosystem around one of the country’s newer sporting disciplines.