Africa’s competitive gaming scene is about to hit a new high score. Carry1st, one of the continent’s leading games publisher, has officially launched the 2025 edition of the Carry1st Africa Cup, headlined by none other than Call of Duty®: Mobile. This year’s event promises to be the biggest yet, bringing together over 200 teams and more than 1,000 players across seven regions.
But what truly sets this tournament apart? For the first time ever, Activision has officially sanctioned it as a qualifying tournament for the Call of Duty®: Mobile World Championship 2025. That means African gamers now have a direct pathway to the $1 million global stage — a game-changer for a region historically underrepresented in international esports.
More Regions, Bigger Stakes
After a successful 2024 edition that attracted teams from five African territories, Carry1st is expanding the battlefield in 2025. This year’s qualifiers will span Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, North Africa (Egypt & Morocco), Kenya, Uganda, and Francophone West Africa (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal). New to the tournament is a Wildcard Slot, giving emerging teams from countries like Mauritius and Tunisia a shot at glory — a nod to the publisher’s ongoing push for pan-African inclusion.
Speaking on the tournament’s evolution, Guillaume Noé, VP of Growth at Carry1st, said:
“Last year proved that African talent can compete at the highest level. Now, with Activision’s recognition, our players are no longer just representing their countries — they’re stepping onto the global esports stage.”
LAN Finals in Lagos and a Shot at $1M
The competition kicks off in May with regional online qualifiers held every weekend through July. Each region will face a gauntlet of group stages, playoffs, and regional finals to determine who advances. The top teams will battle it out at the LAN Grand Finals in Lagos, Nigeria, scheduled for August 2025, with a $15,000 prize pool on the line — and, more importantly, a ticket to the world championship.
To support equitable access, Carry1st has pledged to cover travel costs for qualifying teams, ensuring that geography isn’t a barrier to participation.
How to Join the Battle
Registrations go live on May 3 on the official Carry1st Africa Cup website. Teams must have five starting players and one substitute. Both amateurs and professionals are welcome, provided they are residents of the country they’re representing.
This year’s tournament welcomes players with not just dreams of national glory but global ambitions.
Carry1st: Powering Africa’s Gaming Economy
Since its founding in 2018, Carry1st has built a reputation as the go-to platform for scaling games across Africa. From publishing global titles like VALORANT and Mancala Adventures to integrating payments via its Pay1st system and e-commerce through the Carry1st Shop, the company is helping redefine gaming on the continent.
Backed by tech giants like Sony, a16z, Riot Games, Google, and BITKRAFT, Carry1st isn’t just betting on Africa’s gaming future — it’s building it.
