Over 100 young Ghanaian athletes gathered at the University of Ghana Rugby Stadium last Saturday to participate in tryouts aimed at selecting a national flag football team, as part of efforts to secure a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The initiative, led by NFL star Brian Asamoah II and other professional American football players, marks Ghana’s strategic entry into the fast-growing sport of flag football, a non-contact variant of American football.

The sport was officially added to the Olympic program in October 2023, with over 60 countries expected to compete for slots across different continents.

The tryouts featured a host of current and former National Football League (NFL) stars, including Jordan Addison, Paulson Adebo, Aaron Jones, Thomas Incoom, Jude Adjei-Barimah, and Joseph Addai, who guided participants through rigorous drills and assessments.

Speaking on the selection process, Asamoah emphasized the phased approach to trimming the squad. 

“I believe it was like 100 and then we're going to try to get this number down to like 50 players. And then from there, we'll continue to have more games and more opportunities to see the talent. And then from there, we'll select 25 to officially represent the Ghana National Flag Football,” he explained.

He further highlighted the broader significance of the initiative, stating, “Supporting the growth of flag football in Ghana is exciting & motivating because it represents a unique opportunity to influence both sports culture and youth development in an impactful way. Flag football is engaging and inclusive, which makes it a great tool to promote teamwork & leadership. What drives me to be part of this journey is the potential to help build a foundation for the sport in our country that is rapidly developing its athletic infrastructure. Flag football can serve as a gateway to broader sports development, with the added benefit of providing opportunities for youth in a great environment. Something as simple as a ball can unite communities, and ultimately foster a sense of pride and achievement.”

The selected team is set to compete in an 18-team invitational tournament in June, with plans to participate in additional competitions leading up to the Olympic qualifiers in 2027. The ultimate goal is to secure a historic Olympic debut for Ghana in flag football.

Juliana Addo Yobo, Head of Legal for the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, affirmed the government’s support for the project. “We are very pleased and glad that this camp is ongoing and that these children are being given this opportunity. Definitely, the minister is all out to support and help in any way that he can, and in any way that he's called upon,” she stated.

The Vice President of the Ghana America Football Federation, Hamza Djibril, a key figure in the initiative, underscored the importance of early preparation to maximize Ghana’s chances. “I believe that Ghana can even live the truth. So what we want to do, the reason is that we want to start early, get the best of the best, make sure each competition we do well, improve on the performance and then make sure we qualify in 2027 for the 2028 LA Olympics,” he noted.