Africa emerges as a major hub for esports and igaming
The continent’s esports industry, valued at $66m, is attracting investment and creating revenue opportunities for gamers, creators and operators.
Nigeria.- Africa’s esports and igaming sectors are booming, attracting investment and creating real revenue opportunities for gamers, content creators and operators by combining competitive play with online gaming monetisation.
Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Morocco are leading the way, with rapidly growing player bases and increasing local and international investment.
According to a Statista report, Africa’s esports market is projected to reach $66m in 2025. A Stears report adds that the industry is expanding rapidly, with more than “350 million players across the continent, the vast majority of whom are mobile-first.”
Titles such as PUBG Mobile are driving this growth. Reports state that MTN Nigeria’s launch of a dedicated PUBG Mobile server has reduced latency for African competitors, “strengthening the region’s presence in global esports”.
Grassroots organisers, telecom providers and young content creators are turning gaming into viable careers.
Douglas Ogeto, Kenyan esports entrepreneur and CEO of LudiqueWorks, an award-winning game publishing company and development accelerator, said: “Gaming is no longer just a hobby, there are real opportunities here.”
Ogeto, who is also the Co-founder of Deep Vine Entertainment, a gaming and esports company, is driving events, community engagement and strategic partnerships that give local talent a stage to “compete and shine”.
He organised the #RoadToFrance qualifier for EVO France on August 24 in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, featuring Tekken and Street Fighter. Female participation has been rising, from just one or two competitors two years ago to twelve last year, with a target of sixty this year, signalling growing inclusivity and market potential.
Creators and telecoms power gaming
Across Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, creators are monetising gaming content through TikTok and local payment systems, generating income from content creation, coaching and community building even without formal institutional support.
Telecom providers including Orange, MTN and Airtel are bundling gaming into data plans and experimenting with zero-rated access, making gameplay more affordable and accessible.
QTech Games Sales and Account Manager for Africa and Eastern Europe, Ekaterina Mayorova, said: “Africa is not just the next frontier for igaming; it is the present,” highlighting how localised games and revenue-sharing models are unlocking commercial opportunities.
Beyond East and West Africa, Morocco is actively developing its domestic video game industry to create jobs and diversify the economy. Initiatives include a gaming developer hub in Rabat, specialised training programs in game design, programming, and virtual reality, and a $26m investment in “Rabat Gaming City” to support startups with co-working spaces and production studios.
