The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled eAFCON, a digital version of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, marking the organisation’s entry into the eSports sector. The move is part of CAF’s broader commercial strategy to diversify revenue streams and engage younger audiences globally.
In a statement on Friday, CAF explained that eAFCON is being developed through a partnership with Konami, using its popular game, eFootball. The initiative represents the first time in CAF history that the continental tournament has expanded into the eGaming space, creating digital assets that will form part of CAF’s commercial inventory in future AFCON cycles.
CAF described eAFCON as “a significant step for the African eSports ecosystem” and emphasized its potential to strengthen the organisation’s revenue base and commercial appeal. The initiative aligns with CAF’s recent commercial successes, with the Morocco 2025 tournament alone recording a more than 90% increase in revenues compared to previous editions. This growth was driven by expanded sponsorships, broader media rights distribution, and the opening of new markets, including China, Japan, Turkey, and the European Union.
“The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is now undoubtedly the most successful commercial story in the history of African football,” CAF stated, highlighting the retention of long-term partners like TotalEnergies, Orange, Lonaci, 1xBet, Visa, Tecno, and Puma, while also attracting new global brands.
By combining traditional football tournaments with digital gaming, CAF aims to reach fans beyond stadiums and television screens, positioning African football as a competitive global sporting and commercial property. eAFCON is expected to engage millions of young fans worldwide and create new opportunities for sponsorship, merchandising, and fan interaction across digital platforms.
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