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One of many largest speaking factors of the upcoming African Cup of Nations (Afcon 2023) has been the TV rights, pushed by the followers clamor for elevated accessibility to Africa’s premier sports activities occasion.
Now greater than ever, CAF has to plan methods of taking the sport to the followers the place they need, when they need, and the way the need it.
Whereas CAF has remarkably improved on its digital media method, with energetic, interactive and multilingual social media platforms, a obtrusive omission in CAF’s method to fan engagement is the absence of esports and video gaming.
Not like different continental soccer federations, CAF has not ventured into the realm of esports editions for its flagship occasions. Fifa has the FIFA eNations Cup, Uefa hosts the eEURO, and CONMEBOL has the eLibertadores. Why does not Afcon have its personal eAFCON?
Firstly, the numbers help the thought, with roughly 186 million folks taking part in video video games in Africa as of 2022, in line with NewZoo. Creating an eAFCON supplies CAF with a platform to faucet into this market, retaining the curiosity of present AFCON followers, partaking new ones, and revitalizing the eagerness of these dropping curiosity.
Moreover, Africa has the world’s youngest inhabitants and esports is youth centric in nature.
An eAFCON competitors might considerably improve model consciousness and engagement for Afcon.
By introducing the event within the gaming world, followers will meet the Afcon on their gaming display screen and that may arouse their curiosity in following the actual recreation motion, subsequently translating into greater viewership for the actual Afcon matches and elevated social media interplay on CAF platforms.
Moreover, an eAFCON might function a robust software for selling CAF’s mental properties (IP), such because the official Afcon match ball, anthem, trophy, and stadiums.
On this digital period, the place a era typically encounters gamers and groups first by way of video video games, there’s an untapped advertising alternative for CAF to attach with younger followers.
Crucially, an eAFCON can turn into a brand new income stream for CAF. Licensing rights paid by online game publishers to incorporate CAF’s IP within the recreation, together with potential sponsorships for the eAFCON, can considerably contribute to CAF’s monetary features.
For us within the esports world, we lengthy for the day eAFCON shall be a actuality and we’re prepared, when known as upon to supply our contribution in making this a actuality.
The up to date soccer fan needs flexibility in consuming the game, and embracing esports and video gaming is a logical step to satisfy these evolving preferences.
The potential advantages when it comes to fan engagement, model promotion, and income era ought to make eAFCON a compelling proposition for CAF.
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