The announcement of the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) at the New Global Sports Conference in Riyadh has sent ripples across the global gaming community. Scheduled for November 2026, the ENC will run every two years, featuring 15+ titles, 1,000+ players, and a format where competitors proudly represent their nations. Partnering with major publishers such as EA, Tencent, Krafton, and Ubisoft, the ENC has been positioned as the “World Cup” of esports.
But as exciting as this sounds, from an African perspective, the announcement leaves more questions than answers.
Africa’s Position in the ENC
Nothing evokes pride like competing under your national flag. For African gamers, the ENC should represent a historic opportunity to showcase talent and strengthen national esports ecosystems. Yet, the absence of African representation in the announcement video, no African flags, no mention of regional qualifiers, mirrors the continent’s frequent exclusion from global esports events.
The African esports community quickly expressed enthusiasm on social media, but also skepticism. If the ENC is truly a “nations cup”, shouldn’t Africa’s 54 countries be part of that vision?
This echoes past frustrations: despite Africa’s passionate player base, the continent has often been an afterthought in global tournaments, as seen with the Esports World Cup 2024, where African participation was minimal.
Concerns That Cannot Be Ignored
- Replica of Club Esports?
If the ENC mirrors the Esports World Cup, where the same professional players simply swap club jerseys for national jerseys, it undermines inclusivity. The ENC should inspire players in Mauritius, Chad, or Zambia just as much as those in Germany or Korea. National pride must be more than symbolic. - Infrastructure Gaps
Many African nations lack localized servers for titles run by EA, Krafton, Tencent, or Ubisoft. Gamers are forced to compete on European or Asian servers. How will qualification pathways distinguish African players from their European counterparts if servers are shared? Without careful planning, this becomes another structural disadvantage. - Federation Disconnect
Unlike UEFA or FIBA, Africa lacks a strong continental esports body with ties to FIFAe or EWCF. CAF (Confederation of African Football), for example, has yet to embrace esports. Without federations championing their players, African countries risk being excluded from qualification entirely.
Recommendations for Inclusivity
If the ENC is to live up to its promised pillars of inclusivity, credibility, and integrity, Africa must be involved intentionally. Some key steps could include:
- Regional Qualifiers: Each continent should host qualifiers to engage local communities, ensure fair representation, and provide real pathways for nations to compete.
- Regional Partnerships: EWCF should appoint regional representatives or partner with credible African esports organizations who understand local realities. This mirrors how federations like FIFA, FIBA, and ITTF work with regional confederations to achieve global reach.
- Publisher Engagement: EA, Tencent, Krafton, and Ubisoft must expand their support in Africa, not just in marketing, but with servers, events, and grassroots programs.
- Education & Advocacy: Governments and national sports councils in Africa need to be educated on esports’ potential, ensuring federations formally support participation.
Why It Matters
Africa is not a small market. With its youthful population, mobile-first infrastructure, and rapidly growing esports communities, the continent represents the “last frontier” of global gaming. Excluding Africa from the ENC would be a contradiction to the stated values of inclusivity and integrity.
The ENC has the potential to inspire a generation of African gamers to dream of representing their nations, just like their footballing heroes. But for that to happen, Africa must have a seat at the table — not as an afterthought, but as an equal partner.
Final Thought
The Esports Nations Cup is a bold and ambitious idea. Yet, its credibility hinges on whether it truly represents all nations. For Africa, this is more than just a competition. It is about visibility, access, and opportunity. If the EWCF and its partners embrace Africa, the ENC could be remembered as the moment global esports finally became truly global.
