CAF launches eAFCON to enter digital gaming market
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled eAFCON, a digital version of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, marking the tournament’s entry into the eSports sector.
CAF said the move is part of its commercial strategy to diversify revenue streams and engage younger audiences across Africa and globally.
“For the first time in CAF history, the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations has entered the eGaming space through a partnership with Konami, through its game eFootball,” the continental body said in a statement on Friday.
Commercial and strategic benefits
The organisation explained that digital assets generated through eAFCON will be integrated into CAF’s commercial assets inventory from the next AFCON cycle, boosting revenue and commercial appeal.
CAF highlighted that the Morocco 2025 tournament recorded more than a 90 per cent increase in revenues, driven by expanded sponsorships, wider media rights distribution, and entry into new international markets including China, Japan, Turkey, and the EU.
“The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is now undoubtedly the most successful commercial story in the history of African football,” the body said.
The growth is attributed to both the retention of long-term partners—TotalEnergies, Orange, Lonaci, 1xBet, Visa, Tecno, and Puma—and the addition of new global brands.
Expanding reach through digital football
By combining traditional tournaments with eSports, CAF aims to engage fans beyond stadiums and television screens while positioning African football as a global sporting and commercial property. The initiative is also described as a “significant step for the African eSports ecosystem.”
