Esports is rapidly transforming from entertainment into enterprise, and Africa is part of that evolution.
Across the continent, pioneering entrepreneurs are building gaming ecosystems, launching tournaments, and positioning African talent on the global stage.
They’re not chasing trends, they’re shaping an industry through innovation, infrastructure, and community building.
Here are Top 5 African entrepreneurs leading the charge in esports:
– John-Paul Matenga (Zimbabwe): Founder of Team Gematrix, one of Zimbabwe’s top esports teams, he’s championing professional gaming and pushing for broader recognition of esports in Southern Africa.
– Delano Petersen (South Africa): CEO of ACGL (African Cyber Gaming League), Petersen organizes major gaming tournaments and provides infrastructure for competitive gaming in the region.
– Lucy Hoffman (South Africa): Co-founder of Carry1st, a mobile gaming and esports platform that localizes games for African audiences and enables pan-African gaming engagement.
– Stanley “Kobbie” Ohene Djan (Ghana): Founder of Esports Ghana, he’s instrumental in grassroots development, creating access for young gamers through education and organized leagues.
– Nabil Lahlou (Morocco): A player-turned-entrepreneur, Nabil runs Moroccan Gaming Evolution, promoting North African talent through cross-border esports competitions.
These five are building the future of gaming in Africa, with vision, strategy, and a firm grip on what’s next.
