The National Football League is headed to Africa.
One of the leading voices in the league's efforts to establish a foothold on the continent is Osi Umenyiora, a former All-Pro defensive end with the New York Giants who is of Nigerian descent. The league's first official events will take place during a week of activities beginning June 21.
The centerpiece of the program will be a talent identification camp, as well as fan events and a flag football clinic. More than 100 players of African descent are on the rosters of the National Football League.
The NFL isn't just dipping its toe into Africa with the new program, according to Osi Umenyora. The former star pass-rusher thinks it's the right thing to do.
The best way to do it is to go in like this, because the NFL's whole approach to get started is incredible, said Umenyiora, who was born in London to Nigerian parents.
There are a lot of athletes of African descent in the National Football League. The winds are blowing in that direction. The NBA has invested in Africa. We should be in full force there as well. We are going to do that.
There is a strong presence of the NBA in Africa. The league created a new entity to deal with Africa. According to reports, the partnership between the NBA and theFIBA is worth $1 billion.
Forty players will be evaluated during a two-day process in Africa as part of the first NFL prospect camp in Africa. The players were selected after they had participated in regional camps.
Damani Leech, the NFL's chief operating officer of International, said that the organization will look to set up in Nigeria in the future. We want to give the next generation of African prospects a chance to showcase their talent.
We hope that this camp and future camps will provide a path for aspiring players from across the continent. The top talent from the camp could be invited to participate in international combines, the International Player Pathway program, and for those athletes ages 16 to 19 there's the opportunity to attend the NFL Academy in London.
The Uprise is a football program for young players in Nigeria. There were also additional camps in South Africa.
Three prospects who participated in Umenyiora's regional camps and subsequently received invitations to the NFL's international combine and its International Player Pathway program signed with NFL teams.
Mathias Kiwanuka and Roman Oben are two former players who played in the National Football League. Current players expected to attend events include Uchenna Nwosu, who is from Nigeria, and Kwity Paye, who is from Africa.
"We're doing the right thing," he said. We need to be here.
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