{{Short description|Nigerian flag football league}} {{Proposed deletion/dated |concern = Needs more sourcing to meet WP:GNG. |timestamp = 20260529201642 |nom = Vincentcarl |help = off }} {{Multiple issues| {{Undisclosed paid|date=May 2025}} {{Orphan|date=July 2024}} }} {{Use British English|date=June 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
The '''Showtime Flag Football League''', established on July 7, 2023, is Nigeria's largest co-ed professional flag football league. The league follows a 7-on-7 co-ed format, requiring each team to field at least three female players on every play.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 September 2023 |title=SFFL Showtime league X debuts in Lagos |url=https://editor.guardian.ng/sport/sffl-showtime-league-x-debuts-in-lagos/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=16 November 2023 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nwachukwu |first=Iheanyi |date=2024-07-15 |title=Showtime Flag transition to professional league |url=https://businessday.ng/sports/article/showtime-flag-transition-to-professional-league/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2025-02-27 |newspaper=BusinessDay|language=en-US}}</ref>
Founded by Azeez Amida in September 2023, the league is structured as a round-robin competition, with the top six teams advancing to the playoffs and ultimately competing for a place in the championship game, The Showtime Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 November 2023 |title=SFFL Showtime League: Nigeria's Premier Coed Football Extravaganza Takes Center Stage - Nigeria Sports News |url=https://nigeriasportsnews.com/sffl-showtime-league-nigerias-premier-coed-football-extravaganza-takes-center-stage/ |access-date=16 November 2023 }}</ref> The winner of the Bowl receives a cash prize, a championship trophy, and custom player rings. The league is led by CEO Manal Nassar.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ochicha |first=Lovette |date=2024-12-17 |title=SHOWTIME BOWL SERIES: Flag Football CEO Counts Blessings Of First Professional League, Espies Great Future For Nigeria |url=https://www.sports247.ng/showtime-bowl-series-flag-football-ceo-counts-blessings-of-first-professional-league-espies-great-future-for-nigeria/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Sports247 Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref>
== History == The Showtime Flag Football League debuted with the SFFL All-Star Games on September 17, 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolawole |first=Hashim |date=10 October 2023 |title=SFFL Showtime Coed Flag Football League Raises The Bar For Youth Engagement Through Sports {{!}} Sports247 Nigeria |url=https://www.sports247.ng/sffl-showtime-coed-flag-football-league-raises-the-bar-for-youth-engagement-through-sports/ |access-date=16 November 2023 }}</ref> The league initially launched with 10 teams but has since restructured to 8 teams, each featuring a 30-player roster. All matches are played at the Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos, Lekki, which serves as the league's official venue.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ogundiya |first1=Charles |date=15 September 2023 |title=All-Star Game To Herald SFFL Showtime League X |url=https://newtelegraphng.com/all-star-game-to-herald-sffl-showtime-league-x/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=16 November 2023 |newspaper=New Telegraph}}</ref> Showtime Flag Football League was founded to create an engaging and competitive sporting environment, showcasing athletes between 18 and 55 years old.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ogundiya |first1=Charles |date=15 September 2023 |title=All-Star Game To Herald SFFL Showtime League X |url=https://newtelegraphng.com/all-star-game-to-herald-sffl-showtime-league-x/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=16 November 2023 |newspaper=New Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Agberebi |first=James |date=9 October 2023 |title=Organisers seek to set high standard at SFFL Showtime Coed Flag Football League |url=https://www.completesports.com/organisers-seek-to-set-high-standard-at-sffl-showtime-coed-flag-football-league/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=16 November 2023 |newspaper=Complete Sports}}</ref>
== League Format == Showtime Flag Football League plays under a modified version of International Federation of American Football (IFAF) rules. The competition follows a structured three-stage format:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Agberebi |first=James |date=9 October 2023 |title=Organisers seek to set high standard at SFFL Showtime Coed Flag Football League |url=https://www.completesports.com/organisers-seek-to-set-high-standard-at-sffl-showtime-coed-flag-football-league/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=16 November 2023 |newspaper=Complete Sports}}</ref>
* Regular Season: Each team competes in a round-robin format. The top six teams, based on win percentage, advance to the playoffs. * Playoffs: The six qualifying teams compete in elimination rounds to secure a spot in The Showtime Bowl. * Showtime Bowl: The season's championship match, where teams compete for a prize pool, including customized championship rings, a trophy, and cash rewards.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-08-25 |title=N20M Up For Grabs As Showtime Flag Unveils 2024 Showtime Bowl Series |url=https://leadership.ng/n20m-up-for-grabs-as-showtime-flag-unveils-2024-showtime-bowl-series/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |language=en-US|newspaper=Leadership}}</ref>
Showtime Flag Football League also features affiliate and guest teams that participate in various stages of competition.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amosu |first=Adeboye |date=15 September 2023 |title=N8m Up For Grabs In Maiden Edition Of Flag Football League |url=https://www.completesports.com/n8m-up-for-grabs-in-maiden-edition-of-flag-football-league/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=16 November 2023 |newspaper=Complete Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=SFFL Showtime League Debuts Sept 24 in Lagos - THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/09/16/sffl-showtime-league-debuts-sept-24-in-lagos |access-date=16 November 2023 |newspaper=This Day}}</ref>
== Showtime Arena == Showtime Flag Football League matches are hosted at Showtime Arena, located within''',''' Meadow Hall School, Lekki Lagos.
== Teams == The league currently features eight teams, all based in Lagos: {| class="wikitable" |+ !Club !City !Stadium !Capacity ! |- |Lagos Athletics |Lagos |Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos | | |- |Ikan Sports |Lagos |Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos | | |- |Green Backs |Lagos |Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos | | |- |Lagos Raptors |Lagos |Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos | | |- |Lagos Panthers |Lagos |Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos | | |- |Alphas |Lagos |Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos | | |- |Warriors |Lagos |Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos | | |- |Off-season |Lagos |Showtime Arena, Meadow Hall, Lekki Lagos | | |}
== Media Coverage == Showtime Flag Football League has received coverage from local and international media platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-13 |title=Showtime Flag Football Association Seeks NSC's Support Ahead of Olympics |url=https://aljazirahnews.com/showtime-flag-football-association-seeks-nscs-support-ahead-of-olympics/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Future Plans == Showtime Flag Football League has indicated plans for potential national expansion and youth development programs to support the growth of flag football in Nigeria. Showtime Flag Football League continues to operate as a competitive co-ed flag football league, promoting the sport within Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ochicha |first=Lovette |date=2024-12-18 |title=Showtime Flag Football CEO Manal Nassar Rates 2024 Season High, Hints At Bigger Plans For 2025 |url=https://www.sports247.ng/showtime-flag-football-ceo-manal-nassar-rates-2024-season-high-hints-at-bigger-plans-for-2025/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Sports247 Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-13 |title=Showtime Flag Football Association Seeks NSC's Support Ahead of Olympics |url=https://aljazirahnews.com/showtime-flag-football-association-seeks-nscs-support-ahead-of-olympics/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Flag football leagues Category:American football in Nigeria Category:Sports leagues established in 2023 Category:2023 establishments in Nigeria Category:Professional sports leagues in Nigeria