AFEDEV Launches Wheelchair American Football in Lagos

American Football Elite Development (AFEDEV) will stage its inaugural Wheelchair American Football exhibition on Thursday at the National Institute for Sports, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The event aims to promote inclusion and create opportunities for athletes with disabilities, featuring teams such as Lagos Dynamos, Iron Invicta, Liberty Pioneers, and Atlantic Chargers in a knockout format.

Winners of the semi-finals will advance to the final. This exhibition follows over two months of training for the participating athletes and is part of AFEDEV’s broader initiative to establish a structured pathway for athletes with disabilities to develop their talents and pursue careers in American football.

AFEDEV founder Lawrence Ojaideh emphasized the need for such opportunities, stating that many disabled athletes feel hopeless due to a lack of platforms to showcase their abilities. Executive Director Nina Agwuna mentioned the organization’s goal to partner with communities to support overlooked athletes.

AFEDEV also plans to develop a structured wheelchair league, an academy, and a tackle football program for able-bodied athletes.