CODM Fans: South Africa’s Best Esports Teams Go Head-to-Head in the Carry1st Africa Cup Qualifiers
Africa’s first official Call of Duty: Mobile tournament, with a R270,000 prize pool, will see its first qualifiers on Sunday.
Forty of South Africa's top CODM teams have been battling each other for their chance to be crowned the best in Africa.
Now, Carry1st, Africa’s leading mobile games publisher, will host the South African leg of the Carry1st Africa Cup Qualifiers on Sunday- a Call of Duty: Mobile tournament, set to captivate the continent's esports community.
Bringing together South Africa’s top players, the winning team will advance to the grand finals, where they will face off against the continent’s best from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria.
Qualifiers are specific to the chosen six countries participating in the Cup. Following the qualifying rounds, winning teams will gather in person for a dramatic final showdown to compete for a whopping R270,000 prize pool.
The tournament will also award R18,000 to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the grand finals, with MVP prizes available across all regional matches.
“Carry1st continues to pioneer the esports space by bringing together a first of its kind for Call of Duty: Mobile,” says Carry1st Senior Community Manager & Events Lead, Dominion Eromosele. “We’re on a mission to drive competition and grow esports on the continent, through games players love. In doing so, we aim to uplift gamers and highlight the continent’s talent to the rest of the world.”
The SA qualifier, which will be streamed on Carry1st’s YouTube channel, will be hosted by esports caster royalty. Brazilian Portuguese esports commentator Igor LaneX, a stalwart in the Call of Duty: Mobile, will cast in conjunction with popular UK-based commentator Chirs Trout.
“The anticipation and excitement is palpable as we approach the thrilling South African-based qualifier this weekend,'' says African Cyber Gaming League CEO Nick Holden. “This tournament has truly showcased African gamers’ incredible talent and competitive spirit and we are immensely proud to see the level of dedication and skill displayed by all participants. The Cup not only highlights the growth of esports in our continent but also brings together communities in a celebration of gaming excellence.”
Africa's esports scene is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the continent's growing young population. With over 60% of Africans under 25, there is an immense appetite for and rising participation in competitive gaming, especially on mobile devices. As smartphones become more prevalent, the need for expensive hardware and high-speed internet to compete at the highest levels is fading away.
The ecosystem is evolving to provide gamers with an elevated experience to meet this growing demand. Carry1st, which develops, licenses, publishes and monetises games on the continent, recently partnered with Call of Duty: Mobile to deploy dedicated servers in Nigeria and South Africa for this growing community. The Carry1st Africa Cup signals the bright future of esports in Africa, amidst the backdrop of a burgeoning gaming market expected to surpass $1 billion this year.
Watch the Qualifiers
Tune into Carry1st’s YouTube channel on Sunday at 2 PM SAST and 1 PM WAT to watch the Carry1st Africa Cup South African Qualifiers.
The qualification stages are expected to run throughout July and August. They will culminate in the tournament’s finals, which are set to take place later this year. Carry1st will support any travel arrangements for teams unable to travel for the finals, ensuring that all qualifying teams can participate.
Steve Sandmann loves gaming, cars and technology. He calls the African continent home.
