Nigeria has etched its name in Flag Football history, achieving a remarkable double triumph by clinching both the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Africa Flag Football Championships. Held in Cairo, Egypt, at Club One Maadi Stadium, the championships concluded on Saturday, June 21, 2025, marking a significant milestone for African sports. This historic sweep not only solidifies Nigeria’s position as the dominant force in African flag football but also grants both national teams automatic qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships, where they will proudly represent the continent on the global stage.

The Nigerian women’s team demonstrated a commanding performance throughout the tournament, culminating in a decisive 26–12 victory over Morocco in the championship final. Morocco had earned their spot in the final after a hard-fought 19–13 playoff win against the host nation, Egypt. Nigeria’s quarterback, Anuoluwapo Bello, was instrumental in the victory, orchestrating the offense with four touchdown passes and showcasing exceptional leadership and poise. Bello expressed her pride after the game, stating, “This is a great achievement for us, and I’m proud of every woman out here. 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 opened the scoring for Nigeria and added a second touchdown, while Morocco responded twice through Maryem Zeafari. Nigeria pulled ahead decisively with a touchdown from Favour Eric, and Mofeoluwa Akinrinmade sealed the win with a decisive score, slicing through the Moroccan defense. Egypt, who claimed the bronze medal, showed significant promise, with their player Sonia Mouimen noting, “I’m very proud of our team. We are a young group, and we have not been playing together for very long.”

In a thrilling men’s final, Nigeria narrowly edged out hosts Egypt with a nail-biting 13–12 victory. The crucial extra point play by Folawiyo Farouk, following Nigeria’s opening score, proved to be the decider. Edidong Udombat added a second touchdown, establishing a 13-point cushion. Nigeria’s quarterback, Hayes Obinna-Uzoh, captured the emotion of the moment, declaring, “It’s amazing, it’s surreal, it’s history, it’s unbelievable. We’ve made history.” Despite falling behind, Egypt mounted a determined comeback, with Youssef Geith pulling a touchdown back before halftime, and Ziad Ammar adding another in the second half. However, Nigeria’s defense held firm in a gritty and nervy finish, with Obinna-Uzoh emphasizing, “The game was very defensive, but defensive wins championships and the cliché was in full effect today.” Egypt’s quarterback, Mahmoud Aboushady, praised his team’s effort and the electrifying support from the home crowd, despite the loss.

The championship featured 11 teams from eight countries competing over two days. In the men’s bronze medal match, Tunisia secured third place with a dominant 36–14 win over Morocco, rewarding their strong tournament showing. Tunisia’s Montasar Jarraya expressed pride in achieving their goal of a medal at the historic championships. Other men’s placement games saw Cameroon claim fifth place with a 45–13 win over Senegal, and South Africa secured seventh with a 60–0 shutout of Uganda. The tournament not only celebrated athletic excellence but also highlighted the significant development of African flag football officiating, with African referees taking charge alongside Italian counterparts, underscoring the event’s continental significance.

IFAF President Pierre Trochet lauded the event, remarking, “Every player and official who set foot on the field in Cairo this week can claim a piece of history.” He further acknowledged the contribution of the Egyptian federation and emphasized the immense talent and passion for the game across the African continent. Trochet highlighted that this event is just the beginning, committing to ensuring it acts as a springboard for the long-term development of flag football, especially with its scheduled debut at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. This inaugural championship series sets the pace for future continental flag football events.

The final standings for the IFAF Africa 2025 Flag Football Championships were as follows:

Men’s final rankings:
1. Nigeria
2. Egypt
3. Tunisia
4. Morocco
5. Cameroon
6. Senegal
7. South Africa
8. Uganda

Women’s final rankings:
1. Nigeria
2. Morocco
3. Egypt

With this historic double victory, Nigeria has firmly stamped its name in African flag football history, setting a precedent for others to follow, and now shifts its focus to achieving global glory at the 2026 World Championships.