Nigeria are the International Federation of American Football champions of the African continent in both men’s and women’s flag football.
The ‘Giant of Africa’ lived up to its billing and captured both crowns as history was made in Egypt at the first-ever IFAF Africa Flag continental championships. Both teams have become the first qualifiers for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships where they can represent Africa among 16 competing nations.
Nigeria lifted the women’s championship trophy at the Club One Maadi Stadium in Cairo with a 26-12 victory over Morocco, who had beaten hosts Egypt 19-13 in a playoff earlier on Saturday.
“This is a great achievement for us and I’m proud of every woman out here,” said Nigeria quarterback Anuoluwapo Bello, who threw four touchdowns in the win. “We showed what we are made of and in the second half we were able to get ahead and win the game.”
Wide receiver Esther Kalu put Nigeria’s first points on the board and scored a second touchdown but on both occasions, Morocco replied with touchdowns from Maryem Zeafari. Favour Eric edged Nigeria in front and then the decisive touchdown by Mofeoluwa Akinrinmmade, who found space behind the Moroccan defense, opened an unassailable lead.
Photo: IFAF
Center Sonia Mouimen, whose Egyptian team won the bronze medal, said:
“I’m very proud of our team. We are a young group, and we have not been playing together for very long. We usually don’t see crowds of this size making so much noise unless it is at soccer matches.”
In the men’s tournament there was heartbreak for Egypt on home soil as they lost by a single point as Nigeria triumphed 13-12. A successful extra point play proved the slim difference by which Nigeria claimed the gold medal.
That decisive point was reeled in by Folawiyo Farouk after Nigeria had opened the scoring and they extended the lead to 13 points when center Edidong Udombat scored his nation’s second touchdown.
“It’s amazing, it’s surreal, it’s history, it’s unbelievable,” said Nigeria quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh. “We’ve made history.”
Youssef Geith pulled Egypt to within 7 points with a touchdown before halftime and Ziad Ammar scored the only touchdown of the second half, but Nigeria held on to be crowned African champions.
“The game was very defensive, but defensive wins championships and the cliché was in full effect today,” added Obinna-Uzoh.
Egypt quarterback Mahmoud Aboushady said: “We went for it, but we came up just short. We made mistakes. The crowd was awesome, and it was a big crowd who were all cheering and that was really touching.”
Earlier on Saturday, Nigeria booked their place in the championship game with a 40-18 semifinals victory over previously unbeaten Tunisia, while Egypt advanced by beating Morocco 21-21.
Tunisia claimed third place overall by beating Morocco 36-14, the bronze medal the reward for a team that had posted a perfect 3-0 record in the group stages.
“It’s a big feeling of pride for the achievement and it’s in the history books,” said Tunisia’s Montasar Jarraya. “We are very proud to have achieved one of our goals, which was to get a medal at these historic championships.”
In the men’s tournament placement games, Cameroon claimed fifth spot overall with a 45-13 win over Senegal and South Africa took seventh place as they beat Uganda 60-0.
The IFAF Africa Flag 2025 tournament also celebrated the development and achievement of African flag football officials, who took charge of games alongside Italian officials Riccardo Zampedri and Lucrezia Cian.
Officiating the Men’s Gold Medal Game were R Riccardo Zampedri, DJ Anas Elshershaby, FJ Sebiomo Michael, and SJ Cyril Marcilly, The Women’s Gold Medal Game was in the hands of R Lucrezia Cian, DJ Mostafa Yasser, FJ Haidy Wael, and SJ Nourhan Tokhy. The Men’s Bronze Medal Game was officiated by R Mohamed Haddad, DJ Jailan Yasser, FJ Hazem Hassan, and SJ Damilare Maryam.
IFAF Africa 2025 Men’s Tournament
Gold Medal Game
Nigeria 13 Egypt 12
Bronze Medal Game
Tunisia 36 Morocco 14
5th Place Game: Cameroon 45 Senegal 13
7th Place Game: South Africa 60 Uganda 0