“It’s amazing, it’s surreal, it’s unbelievable. We’ve made history.”

They certainly did. Nigeria men’s quarterback Hayes Obinna-Uzoh could barely believe it himself as a gold medal from the IFAF Africa Flag 2025 tournament hung around his neck.

The women of the Giant of Africa also took home gold and along with their male compatriots, secured qualification for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships as Africa’s representatives on the road to the 2028 LA Olympics.

“This is a great achievement for us and I’m proud of every woman out here,” said Nigeria women’s quarterback Anuoluwapo Bello, who threw four touchdowns in the gold medal game win over Morocco. “We showed what we are made of and in the second half we were able to get ahead and win the game.”

Mrs. Olabisi Joseph, President of the Nigeria Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), hailed the victory as a milestone for Nigerian flag football. “This triumph reflects the dedication of our players and coaches,” she said. “I’m particularly proud of the four standout athletes who rose from our 2022 secondary school league to shine on this continental stage. Their journey inspires us all, and we’re committed to nurturing more talents for the future.”

Lanre Ogunjobi, representing the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), echoed those sentiments adding: “The NSC is immensely proud of this achievement. We will continue to support the growth of flag football, ensuring our athletes have the resources to excel.”

Hosts Egypt won medals in both continental championships – silver for the men, bronze for the women. “We went for it, but we came up just short,” said men’s quarterback Mahmoud Aboushady of his beaten finalists and silver medalists. Egypt had inflicted the only suffered by Nigeria on the eventual winners in the group stages and lost in the final by a solitary point. “The crowd was awesome, and it was a big crowd who were all cheering and that was really touching.”

The support at the Club Maadi Stadium in Cairo also caught the attention of Morocco women’s center Sonia Mouimen and silver medal winner, who added: “We usually don’t see crowds of this size making so much noise in Africa unless it is at soccer matches.”

IFAF President Pierre Trochet said: “Every player and official who set foot on the field in Cairo this week can claim a piece of history. I’m enormously proud and grateful to our Egyptian federation, who have hosted this milestone event with great professionalism and warmth.

“But the history is less important than the future, and what this tournament has demonstrated is the enormous talent and passion for the game that exists right across the African continent. We know this event is just the start and, together with our NFL partners, we are committed to ensuring it acts as a springboard to the long-term development of our game.”

President of EFAF, The Egyptian Federation of American Football, Ali Rafeek summed up IFAF Africa Flag 2025 perfectly.

“This event marks more than the start of a tournament, it’s the beginning of a new journey for our sport across the continent,” he said.

And what a journey it is already.