Across West Africa, and particularly within football-obsessed Senegal, the mobile game eFootball, developed by Japanese studio Konami, has blossomed into a significant cultural phenomenon. Far more accessible than its console counterparts, this digital football simulation now eclipses their popularity. Highly organized teams in Dakar are not just playing for fun; they are striving for professional recognition and championship titles. Here in Dakar, many dedicated players are intensely preparing for the upcoming eFootball World Cup qualifications.
With their smartphones firmly gripped, players exude intense focus. In mere hours, they will compete in the qualifying rounds for the eFootball World Cup, an event scheduled for November in Riyadh. Ibrahima Diop, widely known as Ibzo, who serves as the national team coach, delivers his final strategic directives.
Ibzo has carefully assembled the nation’s top talents. This past March, his squad achieved a historic milestone, securing the top position in the African rankings for the first time. The game’s free-to-play nature has propelled its popularity beyond that of traditional console titles. Mohamed, a 17-year-old known as Medzo, who traveled from Saint-Louis specifically for these qualifiers, shared his enthusiasm: “It’s incredibly enjoyable, and the competition is fierce. There’s that drive, that feeling of ‘you won’t beat me.’ It’s also very easy to pick up. You don’t need an expensive phone; just a basic 3GB RAM device, and you’re ready to play. Senegalese players are skilled, numerous, and deeply engrossed in the game.”
Pape Mouhamed Saloum Sow, a law student, echoes Medzo’s aspirations for a professional gaming career. “I aim to reach the highest level. I believe eFootball has evolved into much more than just a game. We met through this, not knowing each other, and now we’re like a family.”
The server dilemma
However, these ambitious Senegalese players contend with distinct disadvantages. Firstly, on platforms like TikTok, where they share insights and strategies, content monetization is not yet available in Africa, unlike in Europe or the United States. More critically, persistent connection issues severely hamper their performance against international opponents. Ibzo elaborated on this: “Here in Senegal, we constantly face server problems. Africa has only one primary server, located all the way in South Africa. This creates significant latency. You make a pass, and it can take what feels like two minutes for the action to register.”
To further professionalize the sector, Ibzo established his own club. This initiative is bolstered by the national electronic sports federation, Fesseda, which was founded two years ago. El Hadji Mansour Jacques Sagna, Fesseda’s president, explained: “We have formalized an agreement to introduce what we call ‘e-navétanes’ – electronic versions of traditional local football tournaments. This will allow a vast number of young people to participate in organized competitions across the nation.”
Furthermore, the federation has announced plans to launch an e-sport analysis and performance center. This facility, to be located at the iconic Léopold-Sédar-Senghor stadium, will provide crucial support for the ongoing professionalization of this burgeoning discipline.