Dakar’s digital pitch: eFootball champions rise in Senegal
Across West Africa, and particularly in Senegal, a nation deeply passionate about football, a new digital pitch has emerged. The mobile football game eFootball, developed by Japanese studio Konami, has become an undeniable sensation. Far more accessible than its console counterparts, this free-to-play title now surpasses them in popularity. In Dakar, highly organized teams are rigorously training, driven by aspirations for professional careers and championship glory, with several players currently preparing for the prestigious eFootball World Cup qualifiers.
With their phones firmly in hand, the players exhibit intense concentration. They are just hours away from competing in the qualifiers for the eFootball World Cup, slated for November in Riyadh. Ibrahima Diop, widely known as Ibzo, the national team coach, delivers his final strategic directives.
Ibzo has assembled the country’s top talent; his squad achieved a historic first-place ranking in Africa just last March. The game’s free accessibility has been a key factor in its widespread adoption. Mohamed, a 17-year-old player nicknamed Medzo, who traveled from Saint-Louis for these qualifiers, shared his enthusiasm: “It’s simply enjoyable. There’s a strong competitive spirit – you tell yourself, ‘you won’t beat me.’ It’s easy to pick up and play. Plus, you don’t need an expensive phone; just a basic one with 3GB RAM is enough. Senegalese players are skilled, numerous, and incredibly focused on the game.“
Medzo, like many others, dreams of a professional career in e-sports. Pape Mouhamed Saloum Sow, a law student, echoed this sentiment: “I aspire to reach the highest level. eFootball has become more than just a game; we started as strangers, and now we’re like a family.“
Challenges on the digital frontier
Despite their talent and dedication, these Senegalese players contend with significant obstacles. One major issue lies with TikTok: the platform, which they use to share analyses and tips, currently does not allow content monetization in Africa, a stark contrast to regions like Europe or the United States. Furthermore, persistent connection problems severely hinder their performance against international opponents. Ibzo elaborated on this disadvantage: “Here in Senegal, we constantly face server issues. There’s only one server for all of Africa, and it’s located in South Africa. We experience severe latency. You attempt a pass, and it takes an agonizing two minutes for the action to register.“
To foster the growth and structure of the e-sport sector, Ibzo took the initiative to establish his own club. This effort is complemented by the national electronic sports federation, Fesseda, founded two years ago. Its president, El Hadji Mansour Jacques Sagna, detailed their plans: “We have signed an agreement to implement what we call ‘e-navétanes,’ electronic versions of traditional local football tournaments, which will enable a vast number of young people to participate in organized competitions nationwide.“
The federation also announced the upcoming launch of an e-sport analysis and performance center, to be housed at the Stade Léopold-Sédar-Senghor. This facility aims to further support the professionalization of the discipline within Senegal.
