An Ordinary Mobile Phone To You Is The Backbone Of Esports In Africa

For most of esports' history, competing at the highest level meant you were very techy, owned gear, or had access and finances to go to game halls to train.  The barrier to entry for tournament participation- we are talking consoles, expensive PCs, stable broadband, and plenty of cash to spare.

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Esports, like every other sport, requires regular practice. Still, unlike physical sports, where talent alone can get you discovered, even if you are offline, your gaming growth depends on how much you are online and how much you engage with the online universe. Africa has several infrastructural gaps that limit the online presence of players, while established markets in North America, Europe, and East Asia keep moving forward.

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Mobile gaming was treated as a watered-down version of the real thing, as it was a secondary market that popped up to absorb the players who couldn't reach proper hardware. That framing shaped public perception,  investment decisions and marketing campaign directions. It is different now. Like every other technology introduced at a high cost, gaming eventually gets decentralized, driven by high demand and the possibilities that open up when access widens. Gaming started with arcade stores, and consoles allowed people to game in the comfort of their homes, and mobile gaming supported gaming on the go. Every time technology gets cheaper, the boundaries of who gets to use it widen. A good example is how affordable cameras pulled ordinary people into photography, and smartphones are doing the same for competitive play that was once tied to arcade machines and consoles.

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The general challenges in Africa have not stopped the drive for the growth of mobile gaming, and this is tied to the fact that it is the continent with the highest number of young people. This population is enticing to Global gaming companies because the younger you are, the more time you get to spend playing the game playing.

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Having clocked this market and audience, Call of Duty: Mobile/Activision is investing in the participation of African players by launching servers and collaborating with Carry1st to bring the tournament through the regions and reach the grassroots audience.

2025 was a historic year for the gaming ecosystem of Africa as it was the first time there would be representation of an African esports team at the Call of Duty Mobile World Championship, qualifying through the Carry1st Africa Cup. What started as a tournament for Africans gained traction on its own and built the community into a label that says we exist and we can do this, just like the other continents that are part of it.

This teaches us something. We should do it ourselves instead of waiting, so that when the time comes, we already have the blueprint and we're ready. You don't need a chance to be ready. You don't need the opportunity before you prepare. Prepare like you already have what you want, because when it comes, you execute exceptionally, like how Carry1st is carrying Africa to the front of the global esports conversation.

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2026 is here, and we can see a doubling of the previous year's prize pool to $30,000; the tournament has approached the communities and athletes in such a manner that communicates, you are special, and you deserve recognition, support, and a proper platform to scale. By ensuring collaboration with federations and organizing athletes into professionals, no longer freelancers who move from team to team without consequences, Carry1st creates structure by demanding it from the teams that participate.

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Yes, it is still tough to game here, but come September 5th, 2026, African COD: M athletes from every side and corner will compete to be the champions of Africa, and from there, the champions of the world.

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Pay close attention to the growth of Africa, of Call of Duty Mobile, its influence on the perception of mobile gaming, and game content creation. Watch the impact Carry1st, as an organization, will have on the global representation of Africans esports players as the great athletes they are.

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Now you understand how the ordinary phone in a random person's back pocket is the backbone of esports on the great continent of Africa.

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The question for you, dear reader, is this: are you following the Cup? If not, get to know the teams and the tournament so far by visiting cup.carry1st.com. If you don't play Call of Duty, I implore you to download the app using this link https://codmatvi.onelink.me/jYL7/ruoxn5lt, and I recommend the Battle Royale mode. If you'd prefer to play with friends, you can join the Discord channel https://discord.gg/buarTVEUr to find your rivals and teammates. If you, dear reader, already play Call of Duty Mobile, then you're already part of the greatness happening in Africa.

Visit shop.carry1st.com and get yourself the best deals on COD Points and Battle Passes.

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Writer: Mavis Ibibere Lucky 

Occupation: COD:M Creators Manager, Carry1st

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