In a remarkable showcase of hybrid sportsmanship, Africa proudly flew its flag at the Phygital Contender – Abu Dhabi 2025, an official qualifying tournament for the highly anticipated Games of the Future (GOTF) 2025. Held from July 25–29 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the event brought together elite phygital football clubs from around the world, including the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, and Argentina, with only six clubs advancing to the GOTF main event on December 18, 2025.
But what exactly is phygital football? This hybrid format merges physical 5v5 football and digital 2v2 EAFC esports competition, where teams must perform across both disciplines. The total score from each stage determines the winner, pushing athletes to demonstrate skill, teamwork, and adaptability across two contrasting environments.
African Representation: Four Nations, One Continent
Africa was well represented by four passionate teams:
- Ghana – Ghana Esports Federation (GESF)
- Kenya – Index G
- Mali – Aigles Phygital
- South Africa – Orlando Pirates Fives
These teams stepped onto the phygital stage not only to compete but to prove that Africa is ready for the future of sport, both on the pitch and in the digital arena.
🇿🇦 South Africa – Close but Unfortunate Exit
Grouped in Group C alongside Qatar and Serbia, Team South Africa opened strong with a 10:8 win over Qatar, dominating the physical game 6–2 and narrowly losing the digital leg 4–6. However, a heartbreaking 6:7 loss to Serbia, where South Africa won the digital stage 3–2 but fell short in the physical leg 3–5, meant they missed out on a quarter-final berth.
🇬🇭 Ghana & 🇲🇱 Mali – Group D Drama
In Group D, Ghana and Mali were placed alongside Montenegro:
- Ghana edged out Montenegro on penalties after a 7–7 tie, winning the digital game 6–3 and losing the physical game 1–4.
- Mali, on the other hand, couldn’t overcome Montenegro, drawing 5–5 in the digital stage and losing 2–4 physically, resulting in a 7–9 loss.
When Ghana and Mali faced off, Mali narrowly took the win with a total score of 7–6, reversing digital defeat (4–5) with a physical victory (3–1). Despite each team securing one win, it wasn’t enough to move forward in the tournament.
🇰🇪 Kenya – A Bright Spot for Africa
Team Kenya, placed in Group E alongside the USA and Uzbekistan, showed tremendous promise:
- In a thrilling opener, Kenya battled the USA to a 10–10 tie, losing the digital stage 6–7 but winning the physical game 4–3, and clinched victory via penalties.
- Kenya secured group stage qualification with a 9–6 win over Uzbekistan, dominating the digital round 8–1, although dropping the physical match 1–5.
Kenya’s performance was a standout for Africa, earning the team a deserved spot in the quarter-finals, and putting African phygital football on the global radar.
What This Means for African Esports and Hybrid Sports
The Phygital Contender – Abu Dhabi 2025 proves that African nations are capable and competitive in this emerging format that fuses real-world athleticism with digital gaming. While Kenya advances, and Ghana, Mali, and South Africa showed promise, this event underscores the need for greater support, infrastructure, and recognition for hybrid sports development across Africa.
With the Games of the Future 2025 fast approaching, African stakeholders must take note, this is not just the future of competition, it is already the present.
