American Football: Nigeria clinch double at inaugural IFAF Flag football, Uganda picks crucial lessons

1^st International Federation of American Football:

Champions: Nigeria (Both men & women)

Men final: Egypt 12-13 Nigeria

Women final: Nigeria 26-12 Morocco

Nigeria won the first edition of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) African flag football (for both men and women) held in Egypt.

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. We showed what we are made of and in the second half we were able to get ahead and win the game,” said Nigeria quarterback Anuoluwapo Bello.

IFAF flag football participating countries

Nigeria edged Egypt 13-12 in the men’s final. “It’s amazing, it’s surreal, it’s history, it’s unbelievable. We have made history. The game was very defensive, but defensive wins championships and the cliché was in full effect today” Remarked Nigeria quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh.

Nigeria booked their place in the championship game with a 40-18 semifinals victory over previously unbeaten Tunisia, while Egypt advanced by beating Morocco 21-12.

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.

Uganda players prior to kick off with Tunisia

“It’s a big feeling of pride for the achievement and it’s in the history books. We are very proud to have achieved one of our goals, which was to get a medal at these historic championships.” said Tunisia’s Montasar Jarraya

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.

“We picked lots of learning points from the championship in Egypt. There are great positives learnt as we head back home” Steven George Okeng who traveled as coach noted.

Uganda players in a talk session with Steven George Okeg

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.