Nigeria’s men’s and women’s flag football teams emerged as champions at the first-ever International Federation of American Football (IFAF) African Flag Football Championship, held in Cairo, Egypt, from June 20 to 21.
The Nigerian men’s team won a dramatic final against hosts Egypt with a narrow 13-12 victory at the Club One Stadium in Maadi.
The final took place in front of an electric home crowd, which included top dignitaries such as Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Ashraf Sobhi.
In the women’s final, Nigeria delivered a commanding performance to beat Morocco 26-12, powered by two crucial second-half touchdowns from quarterback Anuoluwapo Bello.
With both teams clinching gold, Nigeria secured automatic qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships.
Elsewhere, Tunisia claimed the bronze medal in the men’s category, while Egypt salvaged bronze in the women’s event, ensuring the hosts made it onto the podium in both divisions.
The tournament, which featured 11 teams from eight African nations, marked a historic moment for the sport on the continent.
It is the first in a series of continental championships leading up to flag football’s Olympic debut at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
The Africa Flag 2025 tournament, which was organised in collaboration with the NFL, is part of a broader initiative to grow the sport across Africa.
IFAF President Pierre Trochet hailed the event’s success, saying:
“Every player and official who set foot on the field in Cairo this week can claim a piece of history. But history is less important than the future.
“This tournament has shown the enormous talent and passion for the game across Africa. Together with our NFL partners, we are committed to ensuring this event serves as a springboard for long-term development.”
Note that all the participating teams received their first official international rankings following the championship.
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