Eight African nations make Flag Football History in Egypt

History will be made in Egypt on June 20 and 21 when eight nations compete at IFAF Africa Flag 2025 – the inaugural International Federation of American Football African continental championships – at the Club One Maadi Stadium in Cairo.

Host Egypt will open the men’s tournament against Cameroon at 10am local time on Friday on Field 1, while South Africa faces Nigeria on Field 3. The Egyptian women’s national team kickoff their campaign at 11.15am on Friday on Field 2.

Scores from IFAF Africa Flag 2025 will be updated at the IFAF Game Centre.

Cameroon is the only African nation to have participated previously in IFAF competition having played at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships. The Indomitable Lions hold a world ranking of 32 and as a result were seeded number one for the tournament draw, which saw the remaining seven unseeded nations drawn randomly into two groups of four teams.

In the men’s competition, host Egypt has been paired with Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa in Group A. Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Uganda make up Group B.

On Saturday, June 21, each group winner will play the second-placed team from the other group in the semifinals to determine which nations will contest the first-ever continental Gold Medal at Africa Flag 2025 at 6.45pm local time. The Bronze Medal Game will be played at 4.15pm.

Nations finishing third and fourth in their respective groups will compete in placement games to determine the overall standings.

Group A: Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa

Group B: Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda

“There are a lot of unknowns about the teams we’re playing which makes it challenging but also really exciting because it’s such a level playing field,” says South Africa head coach Anthony Shelton. “We’re not putting any kind of focus on who we’re playing, we’re trying to establish who South Africa is, our playing style.”

Abdou Diatta, head coach of Senegal said:

“Facing unfamiliar opponents will be very difficult for us, but also for others. We will focus on our physical and tactical potential by developing varied game plans adapted to different situations and against different attacking and defensive styles.”

The women’s tournament will see Egypt, Morrocco and Nigeria play a round robin tournament on Friday with the top nation qualifying for the Gold Medal Game at 5.30pm on Saturday, June 21. The second and third placed teams will meet in a playoff game to determine who advances to the final.

The Egyptian women’s national team will be led by quarterback Amira Nader, who said: “Africa Flag 2025 is a huge moment for the continued growth of flag football across our continent. It’s an opportunity to showcase the incredible talent and passion rising throughout Africa and take a meaningful step towards making history at LA28. As the first-ever Continental Championships, this event will inspire the next generation to pick up a football and believe anything is possible.”

The International Testing Agency (ITA), which has partnered with IFAF to oversee the independent management of its entire anti-doping program, will be present in Cairo to undertake an education program.

As participation in flag football continues to grow rapidly throughout the continent, this historic event offers a pathway to qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships and represents a significant milestone on the journey towards flag football’s historic Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.