Elite men's and women’s national flag football teams from across the African continent will compete for the first time in a continental championship organized by IFAF.
The event will also qualify them for the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships, a significant milestone for flag football’s debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
“With the launch of our first-ever African Continental Championships, we are advancing the global growth of flag football,” said IFAF President Pierre Trochet.
“AFRICA FLAG 2025 is set to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans across the continent as we build momentum toward LA28,” he added.
The championships will be held in partnership with the National Football League (NFL) and the Egyptian Federation of American Football (EFAF).
Egypt will also welcome the NFL Africa programming for the first time. It includes youth development events, player scouting opportunities, and NFL Flag competitions.
Additionally, Cairo will host a range of youth and grassroots events, including the multi-day NFL Flag Continental Championship. Boys and girls under 12 from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria will compete, culminating in a championship game on 23 June.
The NFL will also conduct a football talent identification camp, allowing standout athletes to be considered for the NFL Academy Europe-Africa programme in the UK or the prestigious International Player Pathway (IPP).
Prominent NFL players, including Bobby Okereke (New York Giants, Nigeria), Brian Asamoah II (Minnesota Vikings, Ghana), and Dieter Eiselen (NFL free agent, South Africa), will participate in the events, supporting football development and youth programming across Egypt.
“It’s exciting to expand NFL Africa to Egypt — a nation full of promise and passion for sport,” said NFL Africa Lead Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl Champion.
“AFRICA FLAG 2025 will not only celebrate competition but create a lasting legacy by connecting young athletes to real pathways in the game,” Umenyiora stated.
Flag football is surging across the continent. At the record-breaking 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships, Cameroon made history as Africa’s first representative on the global stage.
Participation has grown rapidly, with Egypt and Nigeria experiencing growth of 149 percent and 85 percent, respectively, since 2023.
Over 13,000 young people in Nigeria have been introduced to flag football through national federation initiatives.
IFAF and the NFL continue collaborating on coach education and referee training to support this growth.
Most recently, a three-day officiating and coaching clinic was held in Ghana (11–13 April), with participation from 10 African nations: Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda.
“We are proud to bring AFRICA FLAG 2025 to Cairo and to play a part in flag football’s historic rise,” said Ali Rafeek, EFAF founder.
“This event allows us to shine a light on Egyptian talent and inspire the next generation to dream big,” Rafeek added.
“AFRICA FLAG 2025 is more than a tournament — it’s a statement about the future of flag football in Africa,” noted Amira Nader, quarterback of the Egyptian women’s national team.
“We’re not just competing — we’re paving the way for our Olympic dreams,” she expressed.
Twenty million athletes play flag football in over 100 countries, and IFAF’s continental championships are vital to the sport’s Olympic debut.
The 2024 IFAF World Championships, which featured 31 nations from five continents, marked the sport’s most competitive event yet.
Details on participating nations for AFRICA FLAG 2025 and additional IFAF Continental Championships across other regions will be announced in the coming weeks.
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