Connect with us
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

Africa

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

Published

on

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

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.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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.”

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Africa

SOFTSWISS Set to ‘Grab Success’ at SiGMA Africa 2025

Published

on

softswiss-set-to-‘grab-success’-at-sigma-africa-2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

SOFTSWISS, a global expert with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative iGaming solutions, announces its participation in SiGMA Africa, which will take place in Cape Town on 10–12 March 2025.

SOFTSWISS is bringing its award-winning ‘Grab Success’ creative concept to the expo. This time, it will be visually adapted specifically for the African market, celebrating the continent’s rich heritage and the company’s commitment to empowering operators with the best iGaming solutions.

Olga Resiga, Chief Business Development Officer at SOFTSWISS, commented: “We’re excited to bring our ‘Grab Success’ concept to Africa, showing our dedication to innovation and delivering market-specific solutions. With the massive potential of this fast-growing market, now is the perfect time to explore fresh iGaming collaborations. We are looking forward to engaging with new partners, building meaningful connections, and demonstrating how SOFTSWISS can help enrich the future of iGaming in South Africa.”

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Participation in SiGMA Africa 2025 continues SOFTSWISS’ expansion in the South African market. Last year, the company acquired a majority stake in Turfsport, a leading local provider of multichannel wagering software. This partnership resulted in three new product launches in 2024: the Lotto Software, the Retail Betting Solution, and a Horse Racing module integrated into the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook. These new offerings provide operators with flexible and secure tools to enhance their lottery and betting services.

Christian Neuberger, CEO at Turfsport, added:Our partnership with SOFTSWISS has already shown its tremendous potential through the launch of three new products in 2024. As we continue to work together, we see even bigger opportunities lying ahead. SiGMA Africa will be a great platform to showcase what our collaboration can offer operators in the region.”

Additionally, SOFTSWISS recently released its 2024 iGaming Market Overview: South Africa. The report serves as a comprehensive guide for operators looking to enter this market and understand the region’s unique iGaming landscape.

Visitors are invited to schedule a meeting at Stand 56P to meet the SOFTSWISS team and explore the latest solutions designed for operators in the African iGaming market.

 

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 27,800 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

The post SOFTSWISS Set to ‘Grab Success’ at SiGMA Africa 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Africa

Gamanza Games goes wild in South Africa with 10bet launch

Published

on

gamanza-games-goes-wild-in-south-africa-with-10bet-launch
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

Gamanza Games has successfully launched in South Africa’s booming iGaming market, enjoying an impressive debut with 10bet, in partnership with leading local aggregator, Intelligent Gaming. A number of Gamanza Games’s top performing arcade casino games were very well received by players, including the innovative aviation crash game, “Air Racer”, and the Swiss game studio’s fast-paced Plinko game, “Plinkoinko”.

The collaboration with Intelligent Gaming marks Gamanza Games’s fifth regulated market entry and a first step towards wider expansion across the African region. Expectations are high for continued growth in the popularity of arcade casino games in Africa, and Gamanza Games aims to be a driving force of further innovation in the space.

Robert Civill, Chief Commercial Officer of Gamanza said of Gamanza Games’s latest market launch: “We are delighted to activate our partnership with Intelligent Gaming and go-live in what I believe to be one of the industry’s most exciting markets right now. We are really proud to launch with a forward-thinking brand like 10bet as well. We share a vision for evolving the online casino experience, through gamification mechanics, and a wide variety of game choice. Our first game releases have landed really well with local players, so the future is bright for us in South Africa!”

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Michelle Henriques Colborne, Marketing VP at 10bet South Africa added, “Our commitment to delivering top-notch entertainment to our 10bet bettors in South Africa continues to grow stronger. We are excited to partner with Gamanza in bringing world class entertainment and look forward to what this partnership will bring for our players.”

The post Gamanza Games goes wild in South Africa with 10bet launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Africa

The Top 5 Welcome Bonuses South African Online Casino Players Can Look Forward to in February 2025

Published

on

the-top-5-welcome-bonuses-south-african-online-casino-players-can-look-forward-to-in-february-2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

South Africa’s online casino industry continues to thrive, boasting an ever-increasing array of high-quality gaming platforms. With many choices available, discerning a quality online casino has never been more crucial. Quality is determined by several factors including game variety, user experience, customer support, security, and especially the value of welcome bonuses offered.

Due to the extensive number of options, using a reputable guide to sift through the wealth of online casinos ensures that players can find the best experiences available. One such critical factor in this selection is the welcome bonus, which significantly enhances the initial gaming experience and boosts players’ chances from their very first deposit.

As the online casino landscape expands, the importance of reliable, knowledgeable guidance in choosing the right casino becomes imperative. www.nodepositcasinos.co.za, a leading portal for online casinos in South Africa, stands out as a prime resource. Our expertise allows us to navigate and recommend top-tier online casinos that promise not only enjoyment but also security and fair play.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

This February 2025, www.nodepositcasinos.co.za has carefully selected the top 5 welcome bonuses available to South African players. These bonuses have been chosen based on their value, the quality of the casinos offering them, and their appeal to both new and seasoned players.
Here’s a detailed look at what players can expect:

  1. Springbok Casino
    • Welcome Bonus: R500 Free No Deposit Bonus, Coupon Code: NDC500; R11,500 Welcome Bonus
    • Casino Highlights: Springbok Casino, launched in 2012 and licensed by the Government of Curacao, is powered by Realtime Gaming. It is highly popular among South African players for its robust game library including slots, table games, and more. This online gambling site supports gameplay on various devices, offering services in both English and Afrikaans, and all transactions are conveniently listed in ZAR.
  2. Yebo Casino
    • Welcome Bonus: R350 Free No Deposit Bonus, Coupon Code: NEW350; R12,000 Welcome Bonus
    • Casino Highlights: Since 2014, Yebo Casino has been a trusted name in the South African market, adorned in the national green and black to resonate with local pride. It offers a comprehensive Realtime Gaming portfolio and exceptional customer service, with a variety of banking options including EasyEFT and cryptocurrencies.
  3. Punt Casino
    • Welcome Bonus: R350 Free No Deposit Bonus, Coupon Code: SAC350; R10,000 Welcome Bonus
    • Casino Highlights: Tailored for South African players, Punt Casino offers a vast array of games from Realtime Gaming since its inception in 2017. The site is known for its mobile compatibility and a variety of bonus offers, alongside top-notch security protocols ensuring a safe gaming environment.
  4. Thunderbolt Casino
    • Welcome Bonus: R500 Free No Deposit Bonus, Coupon Code: NDC500; R10,000 Welcome Bonus
    • Casino Highlights: With a mascot named Thando the Chameleon, Thunderbolt Casino offers a distinctly South African vibe and a comprehensive suite of real-time gaming titles. Players can enjoy a variety of bonuses and promotions, accessible via both desktop and mobile platforms.
  5. Silversands Casino
    • Welcome Bonus: R400 Free No Deposit Bonus, Coupon Code: NDC400; R10,000 Welcome Bonus
    • Casino Highlights: Established in 1999, Silversands Casino stands as one of the oldest and most respected online casinos in South Africa. The platform features a full range of Realtime Gaming slots and table games, with robust security measures in place to ensure a secure and fair gaming experience.

The post The Top 5 Welcome Bonuses South African Online Casino Players Can Look Forward to in February 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending