Egypt’s Bear Clan shows a grand display of talent and killer instinct as they take home $7,500, and the ultimate bragging rights of becoming the first-ever African qualifier for the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship team.
 

A second day of intense Call of Duty: Mobile action in Lagos has whittled the field down to just two contenders. By the end of Day 2, Bear Clan (Egypt) and Paradox (South Africa) emerged as the last teams standing, setting up an epic Grand Final showdown.
 

The home crowd’s dreams of a Nigerian champion were dashed as both Sierra7 and Eclipse Gaming bowed out, but not without delivering memorable fights and heartfelt post-match insights. From dominant sweeps to hard-fought elimination battles, Day 2 delivered all the drama one could hope for at the Carry1st Africa Cup 2025 Grand Finals.
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Day 2 Recap TL;DR – Carry1st Africa Cup Grand Finals
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Eliminated (Out):

• Sierra7 – Nigeria (Lower Bracket Semifinal exit)
  
  
• Eclipse Gaming – Nigeria (Lower Bracket Final exit)
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Advancing to Grand Final
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• Bear Clan – Egypt
  
  
• Paradox – South Africa
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Key Moments & Storylines
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• Bear Clan continued their incredible upper-bracket run, sweeping Eclipse Gaming 3–0 to secure the first Grand Final spot in dominant fashion.
  
  
• Paradox fought through two elimination matches on Day 2, first defeating Sierra7 3–1 and then eliminating Eclipse Gaming 3–0 to earn a berth in the Grand Final. The South African squad will get a rematch against Bear Clan, who had upset them on Day 1.
  
  
• Both Nigerian squads (Sierra7 and Eclipse) were knocked out on Day 2, ending the host nation’s hopes of a hometown champion.
  
  
• The stage is set for a North vs. South African Grand Final: Bear Clan (Egypt) vs. Paradox (South Africa) in a clash for the $7,500 first-place prize and a spot at the 2025 CODM World Championship.
  
  
• Bear Clan clinch the crown with a 4-1 scoreline to seal the grand prize and bragging rights.
  
  

Bear Clan Charges Into the Grand Final

Entering Day 2, Bear Clan were riding high after their Day 1 upset over Paradox, and they only gained momentum from there. In the upper bracket final against Nigeria’s Eclipse Gaming, the Egyptian squad put on a clinic, winning 3–0 in a clean sweep. Bear Clan’s aggressive playstyle and coordinated tactics shone through each mode, whether racking up Hardpoint time or clutching rounds in Search & Destroy. Every attempt by Eclipse to shift the tide was shut down, as Bear Clan demonstrated why they have gone undefeated through the bracket. The 3–0 victory not only sent Eclipse down to the do-or-die lower bracket but also booked Bear Clan’s ticket to the Grand Final as the team to beat.
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This dominant run has solidified Bear Clan’s status as the tournament’s dark horse-turned-favorite. “Paradox made it one hell of a match [on Day 1], but our teamwork and coordination prevailed. GG,” Bear Clan’s captain Vepexx had said after toppling Paradox earlier. That same composure was on display against Eclipse. With every member pulling their weight, Bear Clan have become the story of the finals; a team that came in as a regional underdog but now stands just one match away from claiming the crown.
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Sierra7’s Journey Ends in the Lower Bracket

After a turbulent first day, Sierra7, Nigeria’s back-to-back regional champions, found themselves in the lower bracket on Day 2, fighting for survival. Their opponents in the Lower Bracket Semifinal were Paradox, the formidable South African team hungry for redemption. The clash had high stakes and national pride on the line: Sierra7 carried the hopes of the Nigerian crowd, while Paradox was determined to keep their championship dream alive.

Paradox came out strong on the first map and set the tone early. Although Sierra7 managed to snatch a win on one map (handing Paradox a rare Search & Destroy loss), the overall momentum favoured Paradox. In the end, Paradox triumphed 3–1 to eliminate Sierra7. It was a bitter finish for Sierra7, who had shown incredible grit throughout the tournament with multiple elimination-match wins the day before.

In a candid post-match interview, Life from Sierra7 reflected on the obstacles his team faced. He noted that preparation was hindered by external factors, explaining, 

“In the Nigerian region, we really have a bad Wi-Fi network issue this year [especially during our regional qualifiers], so things like this actually make you not improve, unlike other regions.” 

Despite those challenges, Life believed the match against Paradox was within reach, attributing the loss to momentary lapses rather than skill: “The match wasn’t all that difficult; it was just a crazy decision that made it so different. We could have done better, that’s all,” he said. Those words encapsulate Sierra7’s rollercoaster run; a campaign of high hopes and flashes of brilliance, ultimately cut short just shy of the finals.

Paradox Overpowers Eclipse to Reach the Final

With Sierra7 dispatched, Paradox advanced to the Lower Bracket Final to face Eclipse Gaming, the last remaining Nigerian team. This matchup was effectively a showdown for a Grand Final berth – and a rematch with Bear Clan – so the pressure was immense on both sides. For Eclipse, it was a shot at redemption after falling out of the upper bracket; for Paradox, it was one more hurdle on their comeback journey. The arena buzzed as fans braced for a tight contest between South Africa and Nigeria’s finest.

What followed was a statement performance from Paradox. Learning from their earlier setback in the tournament, Paradox came out firing and never let up, sweeping Eclipse 3–0 in a decisive fashion. Each map saw Paradox outmanoeuvre and outfrag the Eclipse side, silencing the home crowd with every point captured. By the end of the series, Paradox had secured their place in the Grand Final, proving that their confidence was not misplaced.

For Eclipse Gaming, the loss was a tough pill to swallow, but the team remained proud of their effort. “The experience was nice… playing teams from different countries can never be easy,” said KoKo from Eclipse, reflecting on the journey despite the defeat. He noted the team had to adapt to new devices on stage and tried their best to execute their game plan. “We had our strategies, everything – but sometimes, even when you have strategies, you are not really able to win… We could have done better,” KoKo admitted. His words underscore the challenges Eclipse faced: adaptation, execution under pressure, and the narrow margin between victory and defeat at this elite level.

On the other side, Toxic, the captain of Paradox, praised Eclipse’s run and acknowledged the battle they gave Paradox. “Eclipse is a good team – give them credit for making it this far,” he said, showing respect to the Nigerian squad. 

Toxic also analysed the gameplay, admitting that Paradox initially allowed Eclipse to gain too much ground: “We let them take space and control the game for a part of time. We could have stopped it by pushing out and being confident in everything we do,” he noted. Indeed, once Paradox found their confidence and aggressive rhythm, they closed out the series emphatically. With a gracious “GG” to their opponents, Toxic and Paradox now turn their full focus to the ultimate test ahead.

Grand Final Triumph and African Esports Milestone

When the dust settled, the Grand Final became a rematch between the undefeated Bear Clan and a battle-tested Paradox. Paradox fought fiercely, determined to overturn their earlier loss. But Bear Clan, with their methodical style and ironclad teamwork, would not be denied. They closed out the match a sweeping 4-1, much to the chagrin of the ParadoX team. As the final kill was secured, the Bear Clan players erupted in celebration on the main stage, hoisting their nation’s flag and revelling in a historic victory.

This championship carries significance far beyond the trophy and the lion’s share of the $15,000 prize pool. It marks a new pinnacle for African mobile esports. For the first time ever, an African team will compete on the global stage of Call of Duty: Mobile. Bear Clan will go on to represent the entire continent at the World Championship 2025, a fact that injects tremendous pride into this victory. 

As Bear Clan prepares for the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship, they carry with them the hopes of a continent. Their victory at the Carry1st Africa Cup 2025 Grand Finals signals a new era for African mobile esports; one defined by confidence, skill, and unity across nations. Africa has a champion to cheer for on the world stage, and Bear Clan has shown that with teamwork, belief, and passion, an underdog can roar loud enough to be heard around the globe.