Cairo: Nigeria’s women’s and men’s teams have been crowned the inaugural IFAF African Flag Football champions, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s journey towards its first Olympic Games appearance in Los Angeles 2028. The Nigerian men’s team clinched a thrilling victory, winning 13-12 over hosts Egypt in front of a vibrant crowd at the Club One Stadium in Maadi, Cairo, attended by Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sport, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi.
According to African Press Organization, Nigeria’s women’s team delivered a confident performance, defeating Morocco 26-12 in the final, with quarterback Anuoluwapo Bello throwing two decisive second-half touchdowns. Tunisia claimed the bronze for the men’s category, while Egypt secured the third spot in the women’s tournament, completing the historic podiums. “It’s amazing, it’s surreal, it’s history, it’s unbelievable,” expressed Nigeria men’s quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh, reflecting on their achievement. Meanwhile, Egypt’s men’s quarterback Mahmoud Aboushady acknowledged the enthusiastic support of the home crowd, stating, “The crowd was awesome, and it was a big crowd who were all cheering, and that was really touching.”
Morocco women’s center, silver medalist Sonia Mouimen, noted the exceptional turnout, saying, “We usually don’t see crowds of this size making so much noise unless it is at soccer matches. I am very proud of my team.” Flag football, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, is rapidly developing across Africa, with many IFAF member federations on the continent experiencing over 100% growth in participation last year.
The Africa Flag 2025 tournament was delivered in partnership with the NFL, which is collaborating with IFAF to foster the growth of flag football in Africa. To ensure the event’s legacy for American football across the continent, the NFL organized a series of activities in Cairo, including a continental NFL Flag youth championship for U12 boys and girls teams from across Africa, an NFL talent identification session with the potential for players to advance to the NFL Africa-Europe Academy and International Player Pathway (IPP) program, and a coaching education clinic for aspiring female coaches from Africa, featuring NFL/IFAF Global Flag Football Ambassador Elisa de Santis (FRA).
Two current NFL players, Bobby Okereke of the New York Giants (Nigeria) and Tanoh Kpassagnon (Ivory Coast/Uganda), traveled to Cairo to participate in these activities and witness the historic finals session alongside two-time Super Bowl winner and NFL Africa lead Osi Umeniyora. “It was inspiring to see nations from across the continent come together for the two-day event and showcase the incredible talent of their young athletes,” said Umeniyora. “The NFL is proud to partner with IFAF to help grow the game of flag football, especially as we look ahead to its debut at the LA28 Olympic Games.”
IFAF President Pierre Trochet expressed his pride and gratitude towards the Egyptian federation for hosting the milestone event with professionalism and warmth. He emphasized the importance of the future, stating, “What this tournament has demonstrated is the enormous talent and passion for the game that exists right across the African continent. We know this event is just the start, and, together with our NFL partners, we are committed to ensuring it acts as a springboard to the long-term development of our game.”
The IFAF African Flag Football World Championships, hosted by the Egyptian Federation of American Football, were conducted over two days (June 20-21). The federation’s President, Ali Rafeek, shared his elation, stating, “No words can truly capture the emotion of this moment. It was a world-class competition filled with outstanding performances and, above all, incredible energy. We’ve been building toward this moment for a while with IFAF leadership and our fellow federations, and we’re proud to see that hard work come to life. Africa is officially on the flag football map, and we’re only getting started.”
The Cairo event also marked the launch of IFAF’s comprehensive partnership with the International Testing Agency, whose staff conducted anti-doping education activities for participating athletes and team officials. The IFAF Flag Football Continental Championship series is set to continue in September with the EURO FLAG 2025 event in Paris, France.