Five Nigerians selected for NFL’s 2026 international talent programme
Five Nigerian athletes have been named to the National Football League’s International Player Pathway Programme (IPP) for 2026. The announcement, made on June 5, 2025, highlights Nigeria’s growing presence in American football. The 13-man shortlist features players from 10 countries, with the programme offering a route to NFL rosters. Past Nigerian participants like CJ Okoye and Haggai Ndubuisi have already made an impact in the league.
Match highlights
- Five Nigerians—Collins Arogunjo, Uar Bernard, Michael Daramola, Chibuike Madu, and Anjola Oketola—are among the 13 athletes chosen for the 2026 IPP class.
- The programme, starting in January 2026, includes a 10-week intensive training camp in Florida.
- Participants will have the chance to impress NFL scouts for possible free agent signings or selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- The IPP aims to boost international representation in the NFL, with 70 players signed since its 2017 launch.
- Nigeria’s inclusion reaffirms its status as a key source of international NFL talent.
