본문 : ESI - Siddharth Mehtani

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Financial services company Mastercard has tapped into the African esports sector by hosting its inaugural Esports Summit in Casablanca, Morocco.

Through the Esports Summit, Mastercard aimed to create platforms for collaboration and cross-sector partnerships within Africa’s gaming landscape. According to a release, the hope is to offer resources for young esports players and content creators.

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Mastercard’s Africa Esports Summit held discussions with notable leaders from finance, technology and gaming sectors. Discussions highlighted the importance of aligning gaming with payment solutions, mobile money innovations and the need for regulatory frameworks to support Africa’s esports ecosystem.

Speakers at the Summit included Hicham El Khlifi, President of the African Esports Confederation and Andrew Lilien, Mastercard’s Vice-President for Global Sponsorships. Riot Games representatives Katie Cross (Global Head of Partner Management) and David Mulhall (Global Head of Business Development and Esports Partnerships) as well as Eniola Edun, Founder of Nigerian gaming startup Gamr, took part in the event.

The Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communications was also represented to emphasise the role of policy in supporting esports infrastructure and promoting sustainable growth.

Mastercard, a global payments and debit card facilitator, is known for its consistent sponsorship initiatives within the esports industry. The financial payments provider has partnered with Riot Games since 2018 and supports prominent League of Legends and VALORANT esports events.

Moreover, Mastercard has previously teamed up with esports organisations FlyQuest and G2 Esports for League of Legends-centred initiatives. More recently, the company partnered with the Saudi Esports Federation for 2024’s Esports World Cup.

The Africa Esports summit also showcased Mastercard’s new payment technologies, tailored to Gen Z gamers seeking engagement in the global gaming economy. The summit aims to establish Mastercard’s leadership in shaping the future of gaming and payments within Africa’s esports sector. Moving forward, the financial services company aims to support African creators and developers within the continent’s gaming landscape through events, community-led championships and more.

Mohamed Benomar, Country General Manager of North West Africa at Mastercard, commented on the event: “As gaming gains traction across the continent, Mastercard is proud to support Africa’s young, mobile-driven population by fostering an inclusive and innovative gaming ecosystem.

“Through initiatives like this summit, Mastercard is not only demonstrating its commitment to this vibrant market but also enabling critical partnerships that will fuel the future of gaming in Africa. The Mastercard Africa Esports Summit is a cornerstone in our mission to enable secure, accessible payment solutions that drive economic opportunities for Africa’s digital generation.”