On their phone screens, they dedicate hours each day to practice. eFootball, the popular mobile football game from Japanese studio Konami, has become a widespread phenomenon across West Africa, particularly in Senegal, a nation where traditional football is a deep-rooted passion. More accessible than its console counterparts, this mobile version now surpasses them in popularity. Here, highly organized teams are setting their sights on professional careers and championship titles. In Dakar, numerous players are diligently preparing for the upcoming eFootball World Cup qualifiers.
With phones firmly in hand, the players are intensely focused. In just a few hours, they will compete in the qualifiers for the eFootball World Cup, the globe’s most played mobile football game, with the main event slated for November in Riyadh. National team coach Ibrahima Diop, widely known as Ibzo, delivers his final strategic advice.
He has assembled the nation’s top talents; last March, his squad achieved a historic first, climbing to the number one position in the African rankings. This free-to-play game has now eclipsed the popularity of console titles. Mohamed, or Medzo, a 17-year-old who traveled from Saint-Louis for these qualifiers, shared his enthusiasm: “It’s enjoyable, first and foremost. There’s a strong competitive spirit. You challenge others, saying ‘you won’t beat me.’ It’s easy to play, and you don’t need an expensive phone. Since consoles are pricey, a simple phone with 3GB RAM is enough to join in. Senegalese players are skilled, numerous, and deeply engrossed in the game.“
This young man dreams of a professional career, a sentiment echoed by Pape Mouhamed Saloum Sow, a law student. “I aspire to reach the highest level. I believe eFootball has evolved beyond just a game. We met through this, not knowing each other, and now we’re like a family.“
Overcoming connectivity hurdles
Despite their passion, these Senegalese players face several disadvantages. First, on TikTok, the platform where they share analyses and tips, content monetization is not yet available in Africa, unlike in Europe or the United States. More critically, they contend with persistent connectivity issues that put them at a disadvantage against international competitors. “Here in Senegal, we face server problems,” explains Ibzo. “Africa only has one server, located in South Africa. We suffer greatly from latency. You make a pass, and it takes what feels like two minutes for the action to register.“
To help structure the burgeoning industry, Ibzo established his own club. He also benefits from the support of a national esports federation, Fesseda, founded two years ago. “We signed an agreement to implement what we call ‘e-navétanes,’ electronic versions of traditional local competitions,” states its president, El Hadji Mansour Jacques Sagna. “This initiative will allow a large number of young people to participate in organized competitions across the national territory.“
The federation also announced the upcoming launch of an esports analysis and performance center, to be housed at the Léopold-Sédar-Senghor stadium, designed to foster the professionalization of the discipline.
