What’s it like when it’s your last shot and everything is on the line? That was the vibe of the Wildcard Qualifiers for the Carry1st Africa Cup 2025. A do-or-die affair; only one team would grab the final spot in the Africa Cup Finals, and five hungry teams from across the continent showed up ready to fight.
Over a whirlwind of group matches and playoff battles, we saw underdogs rise, favorites fall, and one squad ultimately claim the crown. After weeks of intense Call of Duty Mobile action, Trinity eSports emerged as the wildcard champion. Here’s how it all went down.
Tournament Overview
Like others before it, this Wildcard qualifier kicked off with a round-robin group stage from June 27 to 29 to seed teams for the playoffs. Each matchup was a best-of-five series featuring COD Mobile’s core modes (Hardpoint, Search & Destroy, Control) under official rules. All five participating teams: DARKNESSS, Trinity eSports, SynStrike, Glitch Gang, and underrated BW, were battling not just for pride but for that one coveted spot in the Africa Cup Finals. The group stage quickly separated the front-runners from the rest.
DARKNESSS came out swinging and didn’t drop a single series in groups, finishing with a perfect 4–0 record. Their aggressive plays and coordination made them look unstoppable early on. Close behind, Trinity eSports went 3–1, only stumbling in a tight match against DARKNESSS. The remaining teams struggled to keep up with those top two. SynStrike and Glitch Gang each managed to win one match apiece, while underrated BW couldn’t find a win in group play. It was a rough start for underrated BW, but thanks to the format, all teams still had a lifeline.
When the dust settled on groups, every team advanced to the double-elimination playoffs, with seeding based on group results. DARKNESSS earned the #1 seed, Trinity #2, SynStrike #3, Glitch Gang #4, and underrated BW #5. The top three seeds received byes in the first round of playoffs, leaving the bottom two to duke it out early. What came next was a playoff full of surprises, comebacks, and clean sweeps.
Winners Bracket Recap
Winners Round 1
The playoffs opened on July 5 with a lone quarterfinal matchup: Glitch Gang (#4) versus underrated BW (#5). With the higher seeds waiting, these two had to fight for the right to join them. Glitch Gang came in looking sharp and took care of business. They swept underrated BW 3–0 in convincing fashion, shutting down underrated’s strategies at every turn. It was a tough loss for underrated BW, but not the end; they dropped to the lower bracket, while Glitch moved on.
Winners Round 2 (Semifinals)
In the upper bracket semifinals, the intensity skyrocketed. First up, DARKNESSS (the group stage juggernaut and #1 seed) finally hit the battlefield, facing off against Glitch Gang. Most expected DARKNESSS to continue their dominance, but Glitch Gang had other ideas. In a stunning upset, Glitch Gang defeated DARKNESSS 3–0. The team that hadn’t lost all group stage suddenly got blanked. Glitch Gang played out of their minds; sharp gunskill, smart rotations, and perhaps a bit of that underdog magic. This result sent shockwaves and knocked DARKNESSS down to the lower bracket.
Meanwhile, Trinity eSports (#2 seed) made their playoff debut against SynStrike (#3). Trinity came in focused and looked every bit the powerhouse, dispatching SynStrike with a swift 3–0 sweep as well. Trinity’s coordination and strategy were on full display; they outclassed SynStrike in each mode without breaking much of a sweat. With this win, Trinity punched their ticket to the upper bracket final. SynStrike was bumped down to fight another day in the lower bracket.
Winners Final (Round 3)
The upper bracket final (Winners Final) on July 5 featured Trinity eSports vs. Glitch Gang – a showdown between a top seed and a giant-killer. By now, Trinity was in championship form. They carried their momentum and took down Glitch Gang 3–0 to secure a spot in the Grand Final. Trinity’s gameplay was clinical; they were always a step ahead, whether locking down Hardpoint hills or clutching rounds in Search & Destroy. Glitch Gang, despite their earlier heroics, had no answer for Trinity’s onslaught in this series. With this win, Trinity remained unbeaten in the playoffs and earned the luxury of sitting in the Grand Final awaiting an opponent. Glitch Gang dropped to the lower bracket final for one last shot at redemption.
Lower Bracket Recap
Lower Round 1
Down in the lower bracket, it was do-or-die for every match; one loss and you’re out. Because of the uneven bracket, underrated BW (who had lost in the quarterfinals) advanced through the first lower round by default, essentially getting a bye and a bit of breathing room. That meant underrated BW lived to fight another round without playing, a small silver lining after their rough start. The stage was set for them to meet a new challenger next. All the while, the losers from the upper semis – DARKNESSS and SynStrike – dropped into later rounds of the lower bracket, waiting for their turn to fight for survival.
Lower Round 2
Lower Round 2 took place on July 6. SynStrike (fresh off the loss to Trinity) now faced underrated BW, who were determined to prove they weren’t done yet. Here, underrated BW kicked into high gear. They swept SynStrike 3–0 in a surprisingly one-sided match. It seemed like something had finally clicked for underrated BW; their tactics and aiming looked far sharper than during groups. SynStrike, on the other hand, just couldn’t regain its footing and bowed out in 5th place. For underrated BW, this victory was a huge confidence boost; their first match win of the entire tournament, and it kept their Cinderella run alive.
Lower Round 3
The next lower bracket matchup was a high-stakes duel between underrated BW and DARKNESSS. By now, underrated BW had momentum, but DARKNESSS was the tournament favourite that no one expected to see down here so soon. This showdown turned into one of the biggest shockers of the qualifier. Underrated BW defeated DARKNESSS 3–0, knocking out the group stage champions in fourth place. It’s not often you see a team go undefeated in groups and then lose both playoff matches without winning a map. But DARKNESSS just couldn’t shake off their funk from the upper bracket loss; underrated BW took full advantage with confident plays and team coordination that belied their underdog status. For DARKNESSS, it was a bitter end to a campaign that started so promisingly. For underrated BW, it was another massive upset and proof that their resurgence was no fluke. They had now eliminated the top seed and were moving on to the lower bracket final.
Lower Final (Round 4)
underrated BW had transformed into the tournament’s dark horse team. Their opponent waiting for them was Glitch Gang, who had dropped down after the upper final. Only one of these teams would earn the last slot in the Grand Final against Trinity. Glitch Gang was eager to bounce back, but underrated BW simply refused to slow down.
In yet another impressive performance, underrated BW swept Glitch Gang 3–0. They were on fire, playing with confidence and aggression, and it paid off big time. Glitch Gang, which had looked so strong earlier, seemed drained and could not contain the momentum of underrated BW.
With this win, underrated BW completed an unbelievable lower bracket run: three consecutive elimination matches won, all in 3–0 sweeps. Glitch Gang’s journey ended here with a respectable 3rd place finish, while underrated BW earned themselves a ticket to the Grand Final. It was a true underdog story in the making; a team that hadn’t won a single map in groups was now about to play for the championship.
Grand Final: Champion Crowned
The Grand Final took place on July 19, and it was the final showdown to decide who would grab that one spot at the Africa Cup Finals. It was a best-of-7 series between Trinity eSports (coming in undefeated from the upper bracket) and underrated BW (the battle-tested survivors from the lower bracket). With no bracket reset needed (Trinity hadn’t lost any series in playoffs), the format meant Trinity needed to win four maps to clinch the title, while underrated BW had to pull off the nearly impossible against a fresh opponent.
When the match began, Trinity eSports wasted no time and came out on fire. They played like a team on a mission; and unfortunately for underrated BW, that mission was a clean sweep. Trinity dominated the Grand Final 4–0, leaving no doubt about who deserved the wildcard championship. Every map showcased Trinity’s superior teamwork and skill. Underrated BW fought with all they had (and they had already shown incredible heart in this tournament), but Trinity just had an answer for everything.
By the end of the Grand Final, Trinity eSports stood tall as the Wildcard Qualifier champions. They completed the playoffs without dropping a single map, further proof of their focus and dominance when it counted the most. For underrated BW, it was a tough loss to swallow, but their runner-up finish was nothing short of extraordinary given their early struggles. They defied expectations and proved that even a slow start can be overcome with determination and teamwork. In the end, the Wildcard Qualifier produced a champion in Trinity eSports and a new fan-favorite underdog in underrated BW.
With this victory, Trinity eSports grabs the final slot for the Carry1st Africa Cup 2025 Grand Finals. They’ll join the other regional qualifier winners in Lagos, Nigeria on August 30–31 to compete for the Africa Cup title and a share of the $15,000 prize pool. Even more importantly, they’ll be fighting for the honor of representing Africa at the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship later this year. The wildcard journey showcased some incredible talent from outside the spotlight, and now Trinity will carry that Wildcard banner to the big stage.
One More Regional Finals to Go
In the end, the Wildcard Qualifiers gave us a bit of everything: an unbeatable champion in Trinity eSports, a fearless underdog story with underrated BW, and some dramatic upsets along the way. Trinity eSports now advances to the Carry1st Africa Cup 2025 Grand Finals, where they will face all the other regional champions.
The stage is set for an epic clash in Lagos, Nigeria at the end of August. Will Trinity’s dominance continue against Africa’s best? Can the other regions’ winners match the level we just witnessed? One thing’s certain: after the Wildcard qualifier, no one will underestimate the “wild cards” from smaller regions.
The competition at the Africa Cup Finals is going to be fierce, and we can’t wait to see who comes out on top. Africa’s Call of Duty Mobile scene just keeps getting more exciting, and the Wildcard teams proved that talent runs deep across the continent. Now, all eyes turn to the Nigerian regionals, the last leg of the regional finals run just before the grand finals.
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