Video games have found their place in Africa with more than 186 million players in 2021 who compete in numerous games. But only a handful of them are getting into esports.
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E-sport has been emerging in Africa for several years and has given rise to champions who give new impetus and sell dreams to young people who love it. It was on the game Guilty Gear Strive that Pape Ismaïla Gueye, aka “Verix”, 23, recently crowned champion at the Arc World Tour which took place in September 2023 in the United States, stood out. Before this victory, he had also been first on the French scene, standing out at the Ultimate Fighting Arena in 2023. His career still impresses. And when we ask him if he thought he would get there, despite the obstacles, he answers: “ It is the culmination of a lot of personal effort. In Senegal, few people are interested in fighting games, there are a few groups trying to organize themselves, however there are still many challenges to overcome for the development of e-sport in Africa. This victory, I hope, will inspire African competitors to surpass themselves to reach the international level. »
Because in fact he also got his victory from the club that supports and trains him, Solo Esport, managed by Baba Dioums. It’s him and his team who go out of their way to give players opportunities.
This victory is a symbol of hope but also of inspiration for the Senegalese and even African “Fighting games” community. This victory, I hope, will help convince our governments a little more to believe in e-sport and to invest more to allow athletes, promoters and associations to be able to work for the development of this new discipline in Africa.. We are very lucky to have Verix at Solo Esport, he is a hero!
And if Verix is doing well in the club, he is not the only one. Mouhamed Thiam, alias “Dexx Junior” also won the title of Senegalese champion on the most popular competitive game in West Africa: efoot.
Initiatives bring out talents
If e-sport talents are emerging and a dream for many, its inclusive dimension should not be neglected. It is within this framework that the French institute and Afrogameuses carried out the ABENA Tournaments initiative which aims to showcase female e-sport talents in France and Africa, with a first tournament which took place at the Gamers Assembly this year.
Mixing eight African, French and West Indian players, ABENA Tournaments wishes to show the way to players who often hide to play, do not dare to go to tournaments, are underestimated or insulted because of their gender.
In the same vein, African female talents exist and are just waiting to shine. And Desiré Koussawo, president of the SAGES company but also of France Esport, understands this well.
SAGES’ mission is to unlock the talent of African e-sports players and connect the African continent to an exponentially growing global ecosystem! SAGES aims to develop a 360-degree e-sports ecosystem on the continent, offer players and organizers a unique platform to capitalize on their knowledge and experience, offer content creators an extraordinary opportunity to express their talent and amplify their audience, and allow professional players and teams to develop new opportunities thanks to the new infrastructures and technologies deployed around the video game industry.
And with this objective, he is working with the French institute to create the Esport Talent Academy which aims to develop the potential of eight African players through an eight-month support program which offers training periods. immersion and online training, led by African and/or French experts in personal development, communication and much more.
With the emergence of these initiatives, all that is missing is the support of African economies to showcase their talents on the continent and internationally.