Ziggy Ansah Advocates for NFL Game to Be Played in Africa

Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah played in London each of the last two years, but he wants to see the NFL expand its brand even more and host a game in Africa.

Ansah grew up in Ghana and shared his thoughts on football coming to his home continent, per Tim Twentyman of the team’s official website: “I would love to see a game in Africa. That would be good, and I think there’s a lot of potential back in Africa. I know that one day the NFL will have a game out there just like we do in London.”

The NFL has used the International Series to increase its reach around the globe in recent years. While most of the games have been in London—including those featuring Ansah’s Lions—the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans will square off in Mexico City this season.

NFL.com shared the International Series' history of games:

Season	Location	Matchup/Result
2016	London	Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
2016	London	New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams
2016	London	Washington at Cincinnati Bengals
2016	Mexico City	Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders
2015	London	Kansas City Chiefs 45, Detroit Lions 10
2015	London	Jacksonville Jaguars 34, Buffalo Bills 31
2015	London	New York Jets 27, Miami Dolphins 14
2014	London	Dallas Cowboys 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 17
2014	London	Detroit Lions 22, Atlanta Falcons 21
2014	London	Miami Dolphins 38, Oakland Raiders 14
2013	London	San Francisco 49ers 42, Jacksonville Jaguars 10
2013	London	Minnesota Vikings 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 27
2012	London	New England Patriots 45, St. Louis Rams 7
2011	London	Chicago Bears 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18
2010	London	San Francisco 49ers 24, Denver Broncos 16
2009	London	New England Patriots 35, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7
2008	London	New Orleans Saints 37, San Diego Chargers 32
2007	London	New York Giants 13, Miami Dolphins 10
2005	Mexico City	Arizona Cardinals 31, San Francisco 49ers 14

Twentyman pointed out, “There’s even talk of the league playing a regular-season game in Germany in 2017 and China in 2018.”

Twentyman also noted Ansah went back to Ghana during the offseason to see his family. While soccer is the most popular sport in the country, Twentyman said Ansah’s “rise in becoming one of the best pass rushers in the league, and the success players like Christian Okoye had before him, have no-doubt helped,” football gain some traction in Africa.

Okoye was a running back from Nigeria who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1987-92. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and member of the 1989 All-Pro first team when he ran for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Ansah recognized the game is growing in popularity during his visit, per Twentyman.

“When I went there I met a few guys that are eager to learn the game," Ansah said. "It’s evolving in Africa.”

The 26-year-old defensive end was a 2015 Pro Bowler after he racked up a head-turning 14.5 sacks, which was good enough for third in the league behind only J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans and Khalil Mack of the Oakland Raiders. He also earned Second-Team All-NFL recognition from the Associated Press.

Ansah has dominated along the defensive line since the Lions drafted him out of BYU with the fifth overall pick in 2013. He had eight sacks as a rookie and 7.5 in his second year before his 2015 breakout campaign.

If he continues to play at such an effective level, he will surely earn even more fans in Ghana and across Africa. If he has his way, those fans will get the opportunity to see him in action in the near future.