CAF enters esports market with eAFCON launch
eAFCON is being developed to diversify revenue streams and engage new audiences, particularly young fans in Africa.
Morocco.- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched eAFCON, a digital edition of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, as part of a broader strategy to expand its commercial footprint and enter the eSports market.
According to CAF, eAFCON is being developed to diversify revenue streams and engage new audiences, particularly young fans in Africa and around the world. The continental body said in a statement on Friday: “A key new pillar of CAF’s commercial strategy has been the introduction of eAFCON. For the first time in CAF history, the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations has entered the eGaming space through a partnership with Konami, via its game efootball.”
CAF plans to incorporate the virtual assets developed under eAFCON into its commercial portfolio starting from the next TotalEnergies AFCON cycle, aiming to boost revenues and strengthen its commercial presence.
The initiative comes as the governing authority celebrates record commercial gains, highlighted by Morocco 2025, which saw revenues rise more than 90 per cent thanks to increased sponsorship, wider media rights distribution and expansion into new international markets, including Japan, China, Turkey and the European Union.
CAF added: “The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is now undoubtedly the most successful commercial story in the history of African football, as the competition’s commercial success has led to a more than 90 per cent increase in CAF revenues for Morocco 2025.”
