Carry1st Africa Cup 2025 Elevates African Call of Duty Mobile Esports

Carry1st, Africa’s leading mobile game publisher, has announced the return of its flagship Call of Duty: Mobile tournament as part of the Carry1st Africa Cup 2025. This year’s event is poised to be the largest and most competitive yet, featuring over 200 teams and more than 1,000 players across seven African regions.

A landmark development for African esports, the tournament has been officially recognized by Activision as a qualifying event for the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship 2025. This recognition unlocks a direct pathway for African talent to compete on the global stage, elevating the continent’s presence in international esports.

Building on the success of the previous year, which included teams from five regions, the 2025 edition expands to seven regions: Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, North Africa (Egypt & Morocco), Kenya, Uganda, and Francophone West Africa (Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Senegal). This expansion reflects Carry1st’s commitment to nurturing competitive gaming across the continent.

The tournament will run from May through July with regional qualifiers held on weekends, culminating in the LAN Grand Finals in August in Lagos, Nigeria. The prize pool for the finals is $15,000, and the winning team will secure Africa’s coveted slot in the global Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship, competing for a share of a $1 million prize pool.

In a move to promote inclusivity, Carry1st has introduced a Wildcard Slot in the qualifiers, allowing teams from countries outside the main seven regions, such as Mauritius and Tunisia, to participate. This ensures broader pan-African representation and opportunities for emerging esports communities.

Guillaume Noé, VP of Growth at Carry1st, emphasized the significance of the tournament: “Last year showed us what this continent’s talent can do when given the right platform. Now we’re raising the stakes with more players and regions, and for the first time, our tournament is a qualifier for the World Championship.”

Activision’s Co-Head of Call of Duty: Mobile, Jeffrey Gullett, highlighted the collaboration’s impact: “This tournament is shaping up to be a major moment for African esports, creating real opportunities for the best players to break through and compete globally.”

Registration for the tournament opens on May 3rd via the Carry1st Africa Cup website. Teams must have at least five starting players and one substitute, and participants must reside in the country they represent. Carry1st will support travel arrangements for qualifying teams to attend the finals, ensuring accessibility and competitive fairness.

The Carry1st Africa Cup 2025 exemplifies the rapid growth and professionalization of esports in Africa, providing a platform for local talent to gain international exposure and compete for significant prizes. It also underscores the increasing recognition of African esports by global industry leaders, signaling a new era of opportunity and development for the continent’s gaming community.