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Africa

Youth football and unity take centre stage in Côte d’Ivoire

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Focus on promoting unity, developing and strengthening football governance

FIFA and CAF presidents visited Côte d’Ivoire to begin two-day itinerary; Focus on promoting unity, developing and strengthening football governance; Continent’s inaugural pan-African inter-school football championship also launched.

The presidents of CAF and FIFA travelled to Côte d’Ivoire on Monday as part of their first joint mission in Africa since the election of Dr Patrice Motsepe as the confederation’s new president in March. Central to their two-day itinerary were meetings with government and football officials, with the focus on promoting unity and serenity, developing and strengthening the country’s football governance and launching the continent’s inaugural pan-African inter-school football championship in Abobo, a municipality just outside the country’s capital Abidjan.

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Arriving in Abidjan they were greeted by members of the normalisation committee of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), including President Mariam Dao Gabala, who along with her colleagues has been responsible for bringing football back into play in Côte d’Ivoire.

An official dinner was hosted for the delegation by Ivorian Minister for the Promotion of Youth, Professional Integration and Civic Service, Mamadou Touré, in the presence of Minister for National Education and Literacy, Marietou Koné. Addressing the gathering CAF President Dr Motsepe underlined the unifying power of football being more important than differences between diverse groups of people. He was also keen to highlight CAF’s robust support for the West African nation stating: “Côte d’Ivoire has CAF’s total commitment and 2023’s AFCON here will be the best ever.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino bolstered this message further saying: “We need to work together to make football great and make the millions of passionate fans in Côte d’Ivoire, a country that has won the AFCON twice and will soon host it, happy.”

Present at the event to provide their support for the joint CAF/FIFA mission were CAF’s four vice presidents, presidents of the five CAF zonal unions and presidents from CAF Member Associations in West Africa Football Zone Union B.

This morning, the CAF and FIFA delegation’s focus was on viewing the work of the FIF normalisation ccommittee first hand, in order to understand what had been completed and the challenges it has faced. Addressing the assembled media outside the FIF building Dr Motsepe congratulated President Gabala and her team on their outstanding work and strong commitment to bringing peace and unity back to Ivorian football.

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This sentiment was echoed by FIFA President Infantino who underlined the progress the FIF had made, particularly with the organisation of an elective congress, which it hopes to hold by the end of the year. “Côte d’Ivoire has the unwavering support of FIFA,” he said.

The joint delegation then travelled to the Ministry of Sports for a meeting with Minister Claude Paulin Danho. Discussions covered the country’s hosting of next year’s AFCON competition, and improving football governance. Speaking to the minister, Infantino expressed FIFA’s commitment and willingness to work hand in hand with the Ivorian authorities to “reinvigorate Ivorian football, especially given the outstanding talent it has produced. The football legends from Côte d’Ivoire have greatly contributed to building football history in Africa and across the world,” he said.

Ivorian Legends were very much pivotal to talks amongst the three men, with the CAF president reminiscing with Minister Danho about Siaka Tiéné, a young Ivorian player who had been one of his favourites due to his talent and passion, when Dr Motsepe ran South African football club Mamelodi Sundowns, prior to his election as CAF president.

The delegation were then received by the President of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, at the Presidential Palace. During the meeting the joint delegation stressed the outstanding talent in the country and the need to harness this through the development of youth football and CAF’s first ever pan-African inter-school football championship.

Following the discussions with the Ivorian Head of State, Infantino said: “President Ouattara is a great fan of football, so it is an honour to be here today to talk about how we can work together to support the youth of this country through the beautiful game. Côte d’Ivoire is a county with a legacy of talented footballers and many future ones yet to be discovered, so it is important for Africa and the rest of the footballing world that FIFA, CAF and the Ivorian authorities work together to develop the game and elevate it to the highest of heights.”

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The final engagement of the day for the CAF/FIFA joint delegation was the launch of the pan-African inter-school football championship in Abobo. Fittingly, a football match featuring mixed teams of schoolchildren kicked off the initiative, with both presidents putting their technical and tactical football skills to the test as team coaches.

Following the match Dr Motsepe announced that the Motsepe Foundation, founded by himself and his wife Precious Moloi-Motsepe, would make a donation of USD $10 million to the ground-breaking new pan-African inter-school football championship, which will take place across the six zonal regions of CAF. After the match, the FIFA President said: “The gesture from the Motsepe Foundation, Patrice and his wife Precious, is exceptional. It’s a step forward for this competition that will give hope and joy to thousands of children in Côte d’Ivoire and throughout Africa who love football. Thank you to the Motsepe family for showing us Ubuntu in action.”

The joint delegation ended their visit to Côte d’Ivoire with a press conference focused on the African league, the development of women’s football, strengthening football governance, this November’s FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar and how to bridge divisions in Ivorian football. Both the CAF and FIFA presidents also outlined the plans to roll out the inaugural pan-African inter-school championship in Côte d’Ivoire to the assembled Ivorian and African media.

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Africa

Altenar obtains National Manufacturer licence in South Africa

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Leading sportsbook provider prepares to debut in African market after rigorous certification process

Altenar, a leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has successfully obtained a licence from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB), marking a significant milestone in its expansion into the burgeoning South African market.

Altenar is now a registered and licenced National Manufacturer in the thriving jurisdiction, following a rigorous process. During the initial stages, several stakeholders were required to complete detailed KYC and compliance checks, as well as fill in significant paperwork to demonstrate the provider’s suitability.

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This latest market debut demonstrates Altenar’s position as a sought-after partner with a flexible and localised solution. The opportunity opens up the doors to further expansion on the African continent and demonstrates its appeal to operators across multiple continents.

Sam Hill, Sales Director at Altenar, said: “Altenar is delighted to receive our licence to supply our sportsbook solution into South Africa. It is another significant step for us globally and is a key target market for us to further establish our product. We’re confident we have all the necessary product features and quality to offer the best solution on the market. This is across core sports such as football and racing, as well as offering customers the ease to prioritise key local content and sports via our highly flexible UI/UX.

“There are also a variety of ways that we support seamless cross-sell between products, which in a market such as South Africa, with the popularity of all verticals, will stand us and our customers in good stead. We are looking forward to the future in South Africa and the wider African market.”

The post Altenar obtains National Manufacturer licence in South Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Africa

BMM Testlabs Promotes Obed Mathabe to Vice President ─ Operations, Africa

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BMM Testlabs (“BMM” or “the Company”), the world’s original gaming test lab renowned for exceptional product compliance services, today announced the promotion of Obed Mathabe to Vice President ─ Operations, Africa. This promotion recognizes Mathabe’s outstanding contributions and leadership in the gaming industry, as well as his proven ability to drive operational excellence across the African region.

In his new role, Mathabe will oversee all operations within the African market, continuing to lead strategic initiatives and enhance BMM Testlabs’ service offerings. His extensive experience in operational management, business development, and regulatory compliance positions him as an ideal leader for the Company’s growth in Africa.

Kirk White, President, Land-Based Gaming & Inspections at BMM Testlabs, said, “Obed has been instrumental in driving BMM Testlabs’ success in Africa, and we are confident that his leadership in this new role will continue to propel the company forward. His blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership experience makes him an asset for BMM as we continue to grow and expand our presence across the continent.”

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Mathabe has a long history with BMM Testlabs, having most recently served as Operations Manager at BMM Testlabs South Africa. In this capacity, he successfully planned and directed operational activities to meet the Company’s business objectives in technical services, local management information systems (MIS), and project office administration. His ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day leadership has been a key factor in his success.

“I am thrilled to take on this new role at BMM Testlabs and further contribute to the success of BMM,” Mathabe said. “Having worked closely with our teams across Africa, I’m committed to expanding our footprint, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring we continue to deliver world-class services to our clients.”

Additionally, Mathabe has held key roles within BMM Testlabs, including Business Development Manager, where he collaborated with senior leadership to create and implement market access and sales strategies for the African region. He also served as Technical Compliance Manager, providing expert technical compliance consultancy services while working closely with regulators and clients to expand BMM’s services.

In other career roles, Mathabe was the Founder and Director of Gaming Sight (Pty) Ltd., where he played a pivotal role in growing the company and establishing it as a leader in the African gaming market.

He also held influential roles at Tsogosun and Royal Caribbean International, where he managed technical departments, ensured regulatory compliance, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

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Mathabe’s promotion comes as part of BMM Testlabs’ ongoing commitment to strengthening its leadership team and enhancing its operational capabilities in key markets. With his vast experience, Mathabe will help guide BMM Testlabs toward maintaining its position as a global leader in online and land-based compliance testing, inspections, training, and support for regulators and operators.

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SYNOT Games Expands to the Nigerian Market Through a Strategic Partnership with betBonanza

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SYNOT Games, a leading global casino game developer, has announced its expansion into the Nigerian iGaming market through a new partnership with betBonanza.

As a result of this collaboration, betBonanza players will have access to SYNOT Games‘ acclaimed portfolio of over 150 unique and engaging titles. The initial launch will feature ten highly popular games, including Aztec Jaguar Megaways, All Ways Queen, Forest Maiden, and Rio Mystery Night. The operator will continue to expand its offering, adding five new games each week until the full portfolio becomes available.

By joining forces, SYNOT Games and betBonanza aim to meet the growing demand for premium gaming content in Nigeria’s thriving market, setting a new standard for entertainment and innovation.

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Unity Nwanze, Business Operations Manager at betBonanza, said: “We are excited to expand our Casino game portfolio with the addition of SYNOT Games! It’s a great opportunity to present our players with fun games and thrilling ways to win. We look forward to a rewarding partnership.”

Kristína Ďaďová, Sales Manager at SYNOT Games, added: “Our goal is to provide the highest level of entertainment and by partnering with betBonanza, we will be able to offer top-quality games to a whole new audience. I believe this cooperation will strengthen our position in a market as demanding as Nigeria.”

The post SYNOT Games Expands to the Nigerian Market Through a Strategic Partnership with betBonanza appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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