The first-ever PUBG Mobile Africa Cup East African finals transformed Nairobi’s Charter Hall into a hub of competitive gaming energy, drawing elite squads from across the continent for a high-stakes showdown that reflected esports’ accelerating rise in Africa.
Safaricom, through its youth-focused Safaricom Hook platform, served as the official technology partner for the event, providing reliable 5G connectivity to support uninterrupted gameplay, live streaming, and instant content sharing.
The tournament, part of Africa’s expanding esports calendar, featured PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile teams battling for bragging rights and regional supremacy in one of the world’s most popular battle royale titles, offering fans a front-row seat to world-class gaming action.
Fawzia Ali, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom PLC, said the company views gaming as a driver of creativity, talent development, and economic opportunity for Africa’s youth.
“Gaming is no longer just a pastime, it is culture, creativity, and community,” said Ali, explaining the company’s choice to power the tournament with its 5G network.
“Through Safaricom Hook, we want African gamers not just playing but rewriting the global script.”
Beyond the competitive matches, Safaricom Hook curated a fan experience that merged gaming with culture, offering interactive pods, meet-and-greets with professional players, and exclusive content zones that turned the venue into a fully immersive esports festival.
The finals followed earlier investments by Safaricom in building gaming infrastructure and awareness, including sponsorship of the Otamatsuri Gaming Convention earlier this year and the inaugural Safaricom Gaming Conference, which explored policy, investment, and technology in shaping Africa’s esports future.
Kenya’s gaming and esports scene has grown steadily since Safaricom first engaged the sector in 2019 through its partnership with Pro Series Gaming to provide mentorship and career pathways for young players.
Subsequent campaigns such as the MobiPlay Challenge in 2021, the “Wai Ndai” online challenge in 2024, and ongoing youth-focused gaming initiatives have expanded participation, created income opportunities, and promoted digital fluency among Kenyan players.
The PUBG Mobile Africa Cup Finals further cemented Nairobi’s reputation as a growing esports destination and demonstrated Safaricom Hook’s strategy to integrate advanced connectivity with youth culture.
By positioning 5G as an enabler of seamless competition, live broadcasting, and content creation, Safaricom is signalling its long-term bet on gaming as a vital piece of Africa’s digital economy.
Industry observers note that Kenya’s esports market is part of a broader regional trend, with gaming conventions, tournaments, and sponsorship deals multiplying as investors, telecoms, and tech companies move to capitalise on an audience of digitally savvy youth.
For Safaricom Hook, backing the PUBG Mobile Africa Cup is less about one-off promotion and more about shaping an ecosystem where African gamers can compete on a global stage while benefiting from advanced digital infrastructure at home.
With its mix of fierce competition, cosplay, music, and pop culture mashups, the PMAC East African finals marked a milestone in the continent’s gaming journey and reinforced Nairobi’s position as a nerve centre for Africa’s fast-evolving esports scene.
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