Nigeria’s women’s and men’s flag football teams made history by becoming the first-ever African champions in the sport. The Nigerian men edged out hosts Egypt 13-12 in a thrilling final game, while the women’s team dominated Morocco 26-12.
The victories earned both teams automatic qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships, where they’ll represent Africa on the global stage. Quarterback Anuoluwapo Bello threw four touchdown passes in the women’s final, showcasing her leadership and poise. “This is a great achievement for us, and I’m proud of every woman out here,” she said.
The men’s team, led by quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh, secured a nail-biting win over Egypt. “It’s amazing, it’s surreal, it’s history, it’s unbelievable,” Obinna-Uzoh said. Tunisia took the bronze medal in the men’s tournament, while Egypt wrapped up the podium in the women’s competition.
The inaugural African flag football championships featured 11 teams from eight nations, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s journey to its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. The event also saw 10 national teams earn their first official world rankings and kick-started IFAF’s partnership with the International Testing Agency for anti-doping education.
Final Standings:
- Men’s Tournament:
- Gold Medal: Nigeria
- Silver Medal: Egypt
- Bronze Medal: Tunisia
- Women’s Tournament:
- Gold Medal: Nigeria
- Silver Medal: Morocco
- Bronze Medal: Egypt
Other Results:
- 5th Place Game: Cameroon beat Senegal 45-13
- 7th Place Game: South Africa shut out Uganda 60-0
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