IndexG and SBA Unveil African Esports Cup
SportsBiz Africa, in partnership with IndexG Esports, has announced the launch of the SBA Esports Cup, a new continental esports tournament set to take place on September 7, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda. The event will serve as a high-energy curtain raiser for the SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025, scheduled for September 9–10.
The tournament will feature eight professional gamers representing eight African nations—Rwanda, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Sudan. Players will go head-to-head on EA FC 25, played on the PlayStation 5. The format will begin with a group stage of four players per group, with the top two from each advancing to the semifinals before culminating in a grand final.
The competition carries a $5,000 prize pool, underscoring its position as one of the key showcases for Africa’s growing esports scene.
The SBA Esports Cup, which will be streamed live on IndexG Esports YouTube channel, presents a rare opportunity of a live continental tournament for EA FC gamers in Africa, where the game has lacked a live continental circuit like the eChampions League in Europe or eLibertadores in South America.
The star-studded list of gamers will include Xmozaa from Raad Esports of Egypt, Zaid April of Goliath Gaming based in South Africa, Faruk Manzo of OAS Esports in Nigeria, Harry Kappa of Plug N Play Esports of Kenya, Uganda’s Aksam Zimbe, South Sudan’s Kora Teat and Rwanda’s Praise Stevens.
In addition to the championship, the SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025 will feature a panel titled “Esports, Gaming and the Next Generation of Athletes”. Experts from across the industry will discuss esports’ role within Africa’s wider sports economy, its commercial potential, and its place in shaping the athletes of tomorrow.
With the SBA Esports Cup, Africa’s rising gaming culture will take centre stage in Kigali, marking both a celebration of talent and a glimpse into the continent’s next frontier in sports and entertainment.
Commenting on the launch, a representative of SportsBiz Africa said: “Esports is no longer merely an entertainment activity. It is fast becoming a pillar of the modern sports economy. The SBA Esports Championship is about creating visibility for African gamers, showcasing their talent on a continental stage, and connecting Africa to the global esports ecosystem. We see this as the start of something much bigger for the continent.”
IndexG Esports Chairman Ronny Lusigi adds that the championship’s ambition is to secure a licensed continental circuit sanctioned by EA Sports FC. He observes that, “EA FC is the most popular esports title in Africa. But the lack of servers has made it difficult for African gamers to qualify for the major EA Sports FC Pro competitions. What we are starting is a showcase to the world and the publishers that Africa has the talent pool and organisational capacity to host the highest level of esports competitions. We hope to convince the publisher to establish an African circuit.”