Carry1st will host the East Africa Regional Finals of the Carry1st Africa Cup 2026 in Nairobi on July 26, bringing together the region’s top Call of Duty: Mobile teams to compete for a place at Africa’s biggest mobile esports championship.
The one-day event, to be held at the Homeboyz Institute of Technology, marks the culmination of online qualifiers that have been running across East Africa since June. The winning team will advance to the Carry1st Africa Cup Grand Finals in Abuja, Nigeria, on September 5–6, where they will compete for a share of the tournament’s $30,000 prize pool—the largest prize pool for a mobile first-person shooter esports tournament in Africa—and an opportunity to represent the continent at the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship.
The Carry1st Africa Cup has quickly established itself as Africa’s premier mobile esports competition and serves as the official African qualifier for the global championship. Beyond identifying the continent’s best players, the tournament is helping build a sustainable esports ecosystem by creating opportunities for professional gamers, content creators, broadcasters, and gaming communities.
The tournament’s growth reflects the increasing popularity of mobile gaming across Africa, driven by greater smartphone adoption, expanding internet connectivity, and a young, digitally connected population. According to Carry1st, the 2025 edition reached more than 57 million people and generated over 332,000 livestream views, demonstrating the growing commercial potential of esports on the continent.
Now in its third year, the Africa Cup has expanded beyond competitive gaming into a broader entertainment platform. Carry1st has complemented the tournament with original content, including a documentary series and a bi-weekly esports podcast, aimed at showcasing African gaming talent and deepening engagement with fans throughout the year.
For Nairobi, hosting the regional finals further strengthens Kenya’s position as one of East Africa’s leading technology and digital innovation hubs, while highlighting the country’s growing role in Africa’s gaming and creator economy.
The July 26 finals are expected to attract leading players, gaming enthusiasts, creators, and industry stakeholders as East Africa’s best teams battle for a coveted place on Africa’s biggest mobile esports stage.