Carry1st will host the official African qualifiers for the 2025 Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship, offering players from seven regions a shot at international esports glory in Lagos, Nigeria.
African mobile game publisher Carry1st has announced it will host the official African qualifiers for the 2025 Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship. This year’s edition of the Carry1st Africa Cup has been officially recognized by Activision, granting it status as a direct qualifying event for the prestigious global competition.
The tournament will span from May to July 2025 and involve teams from seven African regions, culminating in a LAN Grand Final in Lagos, Nigeria, this August. The winner of this regional championship will not only take home the lion’s share of the $15,000 (~£11,257) prize pool but will also earn a spot to represent Africa on the global stage at the season-ending Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship.
This is a major milestone for the African esports ecosystem. In past years, African players and teams often lacked official pathways to global competitions. With Activision’s endorsement, Carry1st’s Africa Cup now provides a legitimate competitive ladder for the continent’s top talent to ascend to international relevance.
“We’re excited to announce the return of Call of Duty: Mobile as part of our Carry1st Africa Cup this year,” said Guillaume Noé, Vice President of Growth at Carry1st. “Now we’re raising the stakes with more players and more regions. For the first time, our tournament has been recognised by Activision as a qualifier, meaning that gamers aren’t just playing for home pride; they’re also competing for the chance to play against the world’s best.”
A wildcard slot will also be featured in the tournament, giving teams from outside Africa a shot to compete. This addition is part of Carry1st’s ongoing mission to promote inclusivity and grow the broader esports community across regions that have historically been underrepresented.
The development comes at a critical time for Call of Duty: Mobile, which has seen limited success in the competitive space compared to other titles under the Call of Duty banner. While the CDL (Call of Duty League) and Warzone events have maintained strong viewership, the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship has lagged behind. For instance, the 2024 championship only drew a peak audience of 31,002 viewers, significantly lower than viewership figures for CDL Majors or Warzone-based competitions.
By expanding the competitive field to Africa, Activision and Carry1st aim to spark renewed interest in Call of Duty: Mobile esports. Not only does this provide African teams with a long-overdue chance to shine, but it may also help grow the game’s audience in untapped regions.
With the stakes higher than ever and the eyes of the global esports community increasingly turning toward emerging markets, the Carry1st Africa Cup promises to be a transformative moment for Call of Duty: Mobile and African esports alike.
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