For the first time, Rwanda hosted the African eSports football tournament, which was won by South African gamer Zaid April, while Rwanda’s representative, Nyamwasa Praise, was eliminated without earning a single point.
The competition took place on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Zaria Court as part of activities organized alongside the SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025, a continental sports investment summit.
Eight national teams, divided into two groups, competed in the tournament. Group A featured Egypt, South Africa, Tanzania, and South Sudan, while Group B included Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and host nation Rwanda.
Rwanda’s Nyamwasa failed to impress, losing all his matches. He was defeated 5-3 by Uganda’s Aksamo, 3-2 by Kenya’s Harry Kappa, and 5-2 in his final match.
Speaking after his exit, Nyamwasa, who was competing before a home crowd for the first time, attributed his poor performance to the lack of support and limited awareness of eSports in Rwanda.
“This is a sport that is still unfamiliar here. You saw that my opponents had coaches and sponsors, while I’m still learning everything on my own,” he said.
“I’ve been playing professional eSports for four years, but many people here don’t take it seriously. They call it a game for idlers or people without ambition. I believe that if government institutions and sponsors support us, we will proudly raise the national flag.”
The tournament’s crown went to South Africa’s Zaid April, who defeated Egypt’s top-ranked Moaaz Ahmed 2-1 in the final. Ahmed, widely regarded as Africa’s number one in football eSports, was stunned by the upset.
April, ranked among the continent’s top 10 gamers, described the event as a breakthrough moment.
“Today I am very happy to beat someone ranked higher than me. What excited me even more was playing against rivals I had only faced online but never in person,” he said.
“I thank Rwanda for hosting this tournament for the first time. African players need more competitions like this to prepare us for global challenges.”
The prize money was distributed as follows: $2,500 for champion Zaid April, $1,500 for runner-up Moaaz Ahmed, and $500 each for semi-finalists Harry Kappa (Kenya) and Aksamo (Uganda).
Author: Justinmind HARERIMANA
