Everyone is smiling after the match Mexico vs. Cameroon in the men’s competition at the World Championship flag football in Lahti, Finland, because everyone recognizes an exhilarating moment. The Mexican players, the spectators, the referees, but above all: the Cameroon players. They walk off the field at the Pajulahti Sports Institute laughing, because they have just provided a unique moment in an already unique week for the African team.
Frank Mbadja scored the very first touchdown for the debuting team of Cameroon. After defeats against Chile (36-0) and Australia (69-0), the duel against the medal favorite Mexicans is also lost by a large margin, but Mbadja does put his country on the scoreboard just before the end: 72-6.
Cameroon is the first African country to participate in the World Championships. “We consider it an honor to represent Africa, here in Finland”, says Mr. Awasum E.M. Jr, president of the Cameroon American Football Federation. “It’s a milestone for the whole of Africa. This is a learning experience for us. I just told the boys that either we win or we learn, we don’t lose this week.”
The presence of the African country shows the growth of flag football, the non-contact variant of American (tackle) football, where you must pull a flag from your opponent’s belt. It’s the equivalent of a tackle, after which the attacking side must gain yards again on a smaller field in a 5 against 5 match. After flag football was shown as a demonstration sport at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, a careful path was set with the help of the NFL. The influential sports organization acts as a backbencher not a front runner and supports the IFAF where necessary. With many things like exposure, creating fandom, broadcasting. In Finland there is a 13 camera set-up for the final matches, thanks to the NFL.
One month after the 2023 European Championships in Ireland flag football got their long-awaited and hoped-for result of the chosen path: an Olympic status, the sport is on the agenda in LA28. Pierre Trochet, president of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF): “In Ireland – when I really didn’t know yet that we would make it, honestly, I’m not dancing around words here – we already said that we have to show the world our growth, that the sport is becoming more popular in many countries, by organizing a bigger World Championships.”
The tournament in Finland ís bigger than ever: there are 32 men’s teams and 23 women’s teams and every continent is represented. “That shows our commitment, our passion for the sport, our determination to make the sport better known”, says Trochet. “And we want to continue doing just that. LA2028 is still just the starting point. It’s not a one and done thing. We’re thinking about Brisbane 2032, about setting up more continental games and about participating in more multi-sport games such as Youth Games or PanAmerican Games. LA28 is not the end, it’s the beginning.”
The United States and Mexico are still the top level countries, both in the men’s as the women’s competition, that win most matches by a large margin. Other countries will have to work on the quality to close the gap. Like Austria shows in Lahti, they reached the final in the men’s tournament, beating Mexico in the semi final. The Olympic status may provide more (financial) opportunities to set up programs, train talents, etc. for other countries as well to reach a higher level.
In Cameroon, there is now a competition with eight teams, although the players of the national team at the World Cup mainly play (tackle) football in teams in Europe. Due to problems with VISA, the players from Africa themselves are couldn’t travel hence the team only has eight players. “We will make sure that won’t happen again at future tournaments”, says the president.
“We want to come with our best team, because we are competitive. We want to show what we are capable of, so every one can see the future of flag football in Cameroon and Africa looks bright”
The first World Championship participation, the first touchdown. These are the first steps towards perhaps LA 2028. “Hold on. Everything in its own time, right, don’t go too fast”, warns the president. “The first satisfaction is being here, the second is the touchdown against Mexico. They are one of the best teams. It’s very good for us to play against them, to see how they play, where they walk, what kind of tactics they play.”
And then – if you look closely to the smile – the Olympic flame can already be seen a little bit behind the president’s sunglasses, the thought of LA28 is in his head. “Who knows… the Olympics… It is possible. And remember, it all started here. In Finland.”