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Sports

Meet the African stars of the NFL

Published 4:39 AM EDT, Tue July 12, 2022
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<strong>Osi Umenyiora </strong>-- A two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, Umenyiora (pictured during warm-ups in 2012) is among those leading the charge to find potential NFL-caliber talent across Africa. The former American football star, who is of Nigerian descent, recently traveled to Ghana for a series of clinics and camps. <strong>Look through the gallery to see more African stars already making their mark in the NFL.</strong>
Osi Umenyiora -- A two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, Umenyiora (pictured during warm-ups in 2012) is among those leading the charge to find potential NFL-caliber talent across Africa. The former American football star, who is of Nigerian descent, recently traveled to Ghana for a series of clinics and camps. Look through the gallery to see more African stars already making their mark in the NFL.
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
<strong>Mathias Kiwanuka </strong>-- The <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/186819-mathias-kiwanuka-a-bio-on-the-ugandan-giant#:~:text=His%20grandfather%20Benedicto%20Kiwanuka%20was,government%20on%20March%201%2C%201962." target="_blank" target="_blank">grandson</a> of Uganda's first prime minister, Kiwanuka (pictured here making a tackle against the Detroit Lions in 2013) is another two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, and, along with Umenyiora, is one of the former players traveling to Africa for the NFL.
Mathias Kiwanuka -- The grandson of Uganda's first prime minister, Kiwanuka (pictured here making a tackle against the Detroit Lions in 2013) is another two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, and, along with Umenyiora, is one of the former players traveling to Africa for the NFL.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
<strong>Ogbonnia Okoronkwo</strong> -- The most common way to recognize NFL talent is through collegiate American football. Before starting his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams, Okoronkwo starred as a defensive end with the University of Oklahoma (pictured here in a game against West Virginia University, November 2017). Earlier this year, he signed a contract with the Houston Texans.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo -- The most common way to recognize NFL talent is through collegiate American football. Before starting his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams, Okoronkwo starred as a defensive end with the University of Oklahoma (pictured here in a game against West Virginia University, November 2017). Earlier this year, he signed a contract with the Houston Texans.
Brett Deering/Getty Images
<strong>Ezekiel Ansah</strong> -- Born in Ghana, Ansah signed a multimillion contract with the Detroit Lions in 2013, before heading to the Seattle Seahawks (pictured, right, in the white jersey, 2020) and now on to the San Francisco 49ers.
Ezekiel Ansah -- Born in Ghana, Ansah signed a multimillion contract with the Detroit Lions in 2013, before heading to the Seattle Seahawks (pictured, right, in the white jersey, 2020) and now on to the San Francisco 49ers.
Steven Ryan/Getty Images
<strong>Ndamukong Suh</strong> -- Born to Cameroonian parents, Suh is one of the most recognizable -- and feared -- names in the NFL. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year and second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.
Ndamukong Suh -- Born to Cameroonian parents, Suh is one of the most recognizable -- and feared -- names in the NFL. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year and second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
<strong>Chukwuma Okorafor </strong>-- Nigerian-born Okorafor (pictured, #76, during a game in 2021) was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2018 NFL Draft. He recently signed a new three-year contract with the team, reportedly worth <a href="https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2022/03/14/steelers-nfl-contract-million-chuks-okorafor/" target="_blank" target="_blank">nearly $30 million</a>.
Chukwuma Okorafor -- Nigerian-born Okorafor (pictured, #76, during a game in 2021) was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2018 NFL Draft. He recently signed a new three-year contract with the team, reportedly worth nearly $30 million.
Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
<strong>Uchenna Nwosu</strong> -- Nwosu, of Nigerian descent, celebrates his fourth-quarter interception (left, jersey #42) for the Los Angeles Chargers, during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in December 2021.
Uchenna Nwosu -- Nwosu, of Nigerian descent, celebrates his fourth-quarter interception (left, jersey #42) for the Los Angeles Chargers, during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in December 2021.
Harry How/Getty Images
<strong>Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah</strong> -- Among relative newcomers to the NFL is Owusu-Koramoah, of Ghanaian descent on his father's side, pictured here (left, in the white jersey) making a tackle for his Cleveland Browns against the Green Bay Packers in 2021.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah -- Among relative newcomers to the NFL is Owusu-Koramoah, of Ghanaian descent on his father's side, pictured here (left, in the white jersey) making a tackle for his Cleveland Browns against the Green Bay Packers in 2021.
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
<strong>Kwity Paye</strong> -- Born in Guinea after his parents fled Liberia during the country's civil war, Paye was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
Kwity Paye -- Born in Guinea after his parents fled Liberia during the country's civil war, Paye was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
Chris Coduto/Getty Images
<strong>Emmanuel Ogbah </strong>-- From Lagos, Nigeria, Ogbah now plays for the Miami Dolphins (pictured here in a game against the New Orleans Saints in 2021). Originally drafted in 2016 by the Cleveland Browns, he would go on to win a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Emmanuel Ogbah -- From Lagos, Nigeria, Ogbah now plays for the Miami Dolphins (pictured here in a game against the New Orleans Saints in 2021). Originally drafted in 2016 by the Cleveland Browns, he would go on to win a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
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