Carry1st is bringing the East Africa Regional Finals of the Carry1st Africa Cup 2026 to Nairobi, setting the stage for some of the region’s best Call of Duty: Mobile teams to battle for a place at Africa’s biggest mobile esports championship.
The one day event will take place on July 26 at the Homeboyz Institute of Technology and will serve as the final stage of the online qualifiers that have been running across East Africa since June. At stake is a coveted spot at the Carry1st Africa Cup Grand Finals in Abuja, Nigeria, scheduled for September 5 and 6.
The team that emerges victorious in Nairobi will progress to the grand finale, where it will compete for a share of the tournament’s 30,000 dollar prize pool, the largest ever offered for a mobile first person shooter esports competition in Africa. The winner will also earn the chance to represent the continent at the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship.
Carry1st Africa Cup has rapidly grown into one of the continent’s most important mobile esports competitions and now serves as Africa’s official qualifying platform for the global championship. Beyond crowning top players, the tournament has also become a key driver in the development of Africa’s esports scene, opening up opportunities for professional gamers, streamers, content creators, broadcasters and gaming communities.
Its growth reflects the rising popularity of mobile gaming across Africa, fuelled by wider smartphone use, stronger internet access and a young, digitally engaged audience. According to Carry1st, the 2025 edition reached more than 57 million people and generated over 332,000 livestream views, underlining the expanding audience and commercial promise of esports on the continent.
Now in its third year, the Africa Cup has evolved into more than just a tournament. Carry1st has broadened the experience with original content such as a documentary series and a bi weekly esports podcast, both designed to spotlight African gaming talent and keep fans connected to the competition beyond match days.
For Nairobi, hosting the regional finals adds to Kenya’s growing reputation as a major technology and digital innovation centre in East Africa. It also reflects the country’s rising profile within Africa’s gaming and creator economy.
The July 26 showdown is expected to draw top players, gaming fans, creators and key industry stakeholders as East Africa’s finest teams compete for a place on the continent’s biggest mobile esports stage.
