Nigeria national flag football player Remilekun believes the country has what it takes to challenge for qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, insisting the talent and developing structure are already in place.
Speaking with Sports247 on Inside Naija Sports, the Showtime Flag Football League player acknowledged that reaching the Olympics will not be easy but expressed confidence that Nigeria’s growing international exposure can prepare the national team for the challenge ahead.
“We have everything set up for us to be there,” Remilekun said, pointing to the quality of athletes emerging through Nigeria’s developing flag football system.
Flag football will make its Olympic debut at LA28, with men’s and women’s tournaments featuring six teams each. The NFL has described the sport’s Olympic inclusion as a major opportunity to accelerate its international growth.
For Remilekun, Nigeria’s recent involvement in continental competition is an important part of that journey, giving players opportunities to test themselves against opponents from across Africa.
His own introduction to the sport came only in 2022.
A former basketball player, Remilekun said a friend encouraged him to try flag football, where his speed and athleticism quickly caught the attention of a coach.
He believes those qualities, combined with quick decision-making, make flag football particularly suited to Nigeria’s athletic talent pool.
At the domestic level, Remilekun pointed to the continued expansion of the Showtime Flag Football League, including increasing participation by female athletes through its co-ed format, as evidence of the sport’s progress.
Showtime’s Season XV begins on September 20, with organisers announcing a ₦60 million reward commitment, including ₦15 million for the Showtime Bowl champions and ₦6 million for the runners-up.
But Remilekun sees the domestic competition as more than a battle for prize money.
For him, its continued development could become an important pathway for Nigerian athletes dreaming of the international stage.
And with flag football heading to the Olympics for the first time, Remilekun believes Nigeria should be aiming for Los Angeles rather than simply watching from home.
