Africa’s esports industry is showing strong signs of rapid expansion, with the Carry1st Africa Cup 2026 returning as the continent’s largest competitive Call of Duty: Mobile tournament and a key qualifier for the global championship stage.
According to the organisers, the previous edition of the tournament reached more than 57 million people, drew over 20,000 viewers during the grand finals and attracted 700 in-person fans at the Lagos finale. The competition also marked Africa’s first-ever qualification pathway to the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship.
“Last year, 57 million people heard about the Carry1st Africa Cup, with over 20,000 people watching the grand finals, and over 700 fans packed the Grand Finals in Lagos… That was not a moment; that was a foundation,” said Dom Eromosele, Lead Growth Manager at Carry1st. “This year we are going at least twice as big, because the talent is here, the community is here, and the world is finally paying attention to what Africa has been building all along.”
The 2026 edition of the tournament is set to expand significantly, with regional qualifiers across Nigeria, West Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa. The competition will culminate in a live Grand Finals weekend in Lagos, Nigeria, on September 5–6, 2026. East Africa will host its LAN finals in Nairobi on July 26.
The tournament features a $30,000 prize pool, the largest ever for a mobile esports competition in Africa. The tournament offers teams a direct pathway to the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship 2026 where players will have the chance to compete for a share of a $500,000 global prize pool.
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