Sport, as most people know it, typically takes place outdoors – often involving a ball and with competitors pushing themselves to their physical limits. But there’s another type of sport that’s certainly not playing around with regard to popularity.

E-sports, short for electronic sports, has become the fastest-growing sport globally. What began as casual video gaming among friends has evolved into a thriving spectacle that’s boosting economies and driving substantial growth in advertising spend.

Although e-sports isn’t officially recognised as a physical sport in South Africa – it’s classified as a ‘mind sport’ – that hasn’t stopped it from gaining impressive momentum. ‘As one of the most economically developed nations in Africa, South Africa is at the forefront of African e-sports,’ reports Esports Insider ‘With the help of key organisations such as Mind Sports South Africa and the Confederation of African Esports [established in 2007], South Africa is one of a number of African countries helping to grow e-sports on the continent.’ The article quotes a report by analytics company Newzoo and gaming platform Carry1st, saying, ‘South Africa is the largest market in Africa and has the highest consumer spending at US$290 million’.

PwC’s Africa Entertainment and Media Outlook 2024–2028 also highlights video games and e-sports as ‘a segment to watch’ in South Africa, and ranks it as one of the fastest-growing entertainment and media segments in Nigeria. A recent Focus Africa article describes Africa’s gaming industry as being ‘in overdrive’. ‘The sector is expanding at an impressive 12% annually, outpacing global growth and capturing the attention of investors, developers and digital platforms. […] Nigeria and South Africa are currently leading the charge, generating a combined US$578 million in gaming revenue.’

This growth among casual and professional gamers, and the resultant economic benefits, hasn’t gone unnoticed by major brands. Last year, Nedbank included e-sports in its YouthX Summit in Johannesburg, where young players were invited to an event where they would receive online gaming training and take part in competitions.

Key drivers behind the momentum on the continent include the rise of local tournaments and Africa’s young population, who are more tech-savvy and less intimidated by mobile and online platforms than previous generations. And this is reflected in the numbers, with the Newzoo and Carry1st report showing that total gamer numbers in sub-Saharan Africa grew from 77 million to 186 million people from 2015–2021.

This growing interest is also reflected in the development of e-sports at schools and universities. Gone are the days of school sports consisting of battles only on tracks and fields or in pools, as e-sports is being introduced into extracurricular activities.

Schools such as Crawford International and Curro are recognising e-sports as ‘more than just a hobby’, according to a recent online blog on Eduweb. ‘They are treating it like a structured competition that builds teamwork, critical thinking and digital skills. The choice to include it is also a response to how careers are changing, with technology and digital engagement playing a big part.’

In the blog, Unathi Bonga, a public relations consultant at Crawford International, explains how schools can’t ignore the digital spaces where kids already spend a lot of time. ‘When e-sports is offered as a school activity, it becomes a way to learn discipline, work together and even look into different careers.’

Curro shares this view. ’E-sports is more than just gaming – it’s a gateway to equipping learners with future-ready skills that translate into real-world success,’ says Curro’s e-sports project manager, Magdeleen de Kock. The school has fully embraced the e-sports movement, hosting e-sports leagues, along with local area network (LAN) events at schools in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as a national LAN event that is open to all schools in South Africa.

The Curro Esports Indaba, held annually since 2023, has been embraced by educators and learners. This year’s event, held at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa, featured talks by experts in the gaming, education and technology industries, along with interactive sessions and discussions on the evolving and growing e-sports landscape in South Africa and beyond. Breakaway sessions also covered topics such as LAN set-up, coaching strategies, tournament hosting and content creation.

‘By combining cutting-edge technology, education and community development, the 2025 Curro Esports Indaba proved that e-sports is more than just a game – it’s a vital educational tool for mainstream education, skill development and future career opportunities,’ says De Kock.

Despite e-sports taking off, there are still obstacles hindering further expansion on the amateur and the professional scenes. The growth of live-streaming platforms has enabled fans to watch their favourite teams in action all over the world.

Poor connectivity, however, has restricted access, along with the ability to play efficiently. Console and PC set-ups are also less accessible in Africa, making mobile gaming the main focus.

Another hurdle is that most of the servers are hosted outside Africa, resulting in latency issues for players. In an effort to combat these issues, Cape Town-based company Carry1st partnered with Riot Games to launch local Valorant servers in South Africa in August 2023 to improve the in-game experience for players.

PwC’s report also highlights how Nigeria has put steps in place to ensure the country builds on the momentum. ‘Ongoing efforts have also been made in Nigeria to develop a more rigorous e-sports structure, with governing bodies such as the Nigerian eSports Federation and Lagos eSports becoming involved in local and national tournaments.

‘Online platforms such as Gamr and Richiez Games Entertainment have also been launched in Nigeria to support tournaments. Uniquely, Kenya remains the only African market in which revenue from traditional gaming exceeds social/casual gaming. Improving connectivity and increasing smartphone accessibility will see social/casual gaming close the gap through to 2028.’

So, while Africa may be lagging behind the rest of the world on the e-sports front, the signs are there that it won’t be a minor player for much longer.

By Philippa Byron
Photography: Gallo/Getty Images