KIGALI – Olivier Hugue Munezero and Praise Stevens Nyamwasa emerged as winners of the SportsBiz Africa – Esports pre-selection tournament held at BK Arena.
Munezero will represent Rwanda at the eFootball segment of the continental SBA Esports Cup, which will feature a total of eight including Kenya, South Africa, Madagascar, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Morocco and Rwanda.
Armed with the EA Sports FC 2026 title, Nyamwasa will join the other three semi-finalists to compete in the continental EA Sports Cup that brings together a total of 32 self-sponsored professional gamers from around Africa
The continental SportsBiz Africa EA Sports FC tournament features a $10,000 (approx. Rwf14.7 million) prize pool while the SBA Esports Cup, which will feature a $5,000 (approx. Rwf7.3 million) prize pool.
A platform for Rwanda’s gamers
The two-day championship brought together 32 Rwandan gamers, with 16 competing in eFootball and another 16 in EA Sports FC.
The tournament was designed to give local players a platform to compete and identify those capable of representing the country at continental level.
Lookman Gatera, a member of the SportsBiz Africa organizing team, said the organizers worked with the local Dream Team gaming club for about two months to prepare the competition.
“We’ve been working together for the last two months, putting all together the requirements, what’s needed and the mobilization, till we’re here today. We have talents within the country and are we will put together some tournaments that will help shape these talents,” Gatera said.
He said the competition is also part of a wider plan to give Rwandan gamers more opportunities to sharpen their skills through regular tournaments.
Call for greater investment
Nyamwasa said his victory was the result of years of playing football video games and showed that gaming can offer tangible opportunities for young people.
“I’ve been playing FIFA since I was young, and finally seeing that I can get something that is tangible within this means a lot to me. There’s a lot of talent here and it good to have people who are making a living out of it,” he said.
He noted that so many Rwandan gamers still treat Esports as a hobby because there are limited opportunities to earn a living from their skills. He believes the development of Rwanda’s technology sector should also create room for gaming and Esports.
“If Rwanda is becoming a hub of technology, like we are seeing everything evolving and growing, why can’t this also be invested in?” he said.
Building an industry around Esports
SportsBiz Africa wants to use the tournament to promote Esports beyond professional gaming and highlight the wider opportunities available in the sector.
Bridget Umutoni, the organization’s project lead, said Esports can contribute to livelihoods and economic development, particularly in a continent with a large and growing youth population.
“We’ve not thought of it as something that can be used for livelihoods, that can contribute to the economy. Yet, the industry creates opportunities beyond players, including coaches, referees, commentators, managers, event organizers and game developers,” Umutoni noted.
During the September event, SportsBiz Africa plans to organize a Gamers Garage for more than 50 young Rwandans interested in game development. An education segment will also introduce young people to career opportunities within the wider Esports industry.
Currently, they are working with gaming clubs, universities and other institutions and are considering establishing a local gaming hub where players can meet and compete regularly.
Rwanda has gaming clubs but does not yet have a national Esports league. According to Umutoni, the long-term ambition is to position Rwanda as a destination for major international Esports competitions.
