Africa
MoU for African schools football competition signed in Congo DR
The initiative will allow FECOFA, FIFA, and the government of the DRC to promote health and support social cohesion by integrating football training into the school curriculum
Today in Kinshasa, FIFA (www.FIFA.com), the Congo DR Football Association (FECOFA) and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a historic MoU that will see the creation of a schools football championship.
At a signing ceremony in the iconic Palais des Nations Hall, FECOFA President Constant Omari, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, and DRC Minister for Sport and Leisure Marcel Amos Mbayo Kitenge signed an MoU that outlined the terms of the school’s football competition and how it will use the power of the game to improve lives and instil positive values in young people.
The event, attended by CAF President Patrice Motsepe and CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, builds upon meetings between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President of the DRC and current African Union Chairperson Félix Tshisekedi (https://fifa.fans/3dOoCHM) earlier this year. In collaboration with the FECOFA, FIFA and the government of the DRC will organize football tournaments in schools throughout the country, which has a population of almost 90 million people, before being scaled up in several other countries in Africa with the support of CAF.
The initiative will allow FECOFA, FIFA and the government of the DRC to promote health and support social cohesion by integrating football training into the school curriculum to teach children the importance of teamwork, self-confidence, strategy, respecting rules, how to be a good winner and how to deal with losing.
It will also see young people being recruited and trained in referring, the provision of football facilities and infrastructures in schools and more girls and boys being physically active and strengthening their links with each other through youth competitions on a pan-African level.
Speaking at the signing of the MoU FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: “FIFA is committed to working with the African Union and CAF to play its part in not only raising the levels of African football but in providing opportunities through football to the many children throughout our continent who have none. We believe in the power of football as more than just a game but as a means of learning life skills and the school’s football championship provides the perfect environment to put these skills into action and the perfect opportunity for Africa’s young people to become inspired and empowered by the beautiful game.”
The CAF President Patrice Motespe commended both FIFA and the DRC leadership on the initiative and the unique opportunity it provides to invest in African youth through the values of football, as well as its potential to inspire African girls and boys to become better citizens.
Following the signing of the MoU, DRC’s Minister for Sport and Leisure Marcel Amos Mbayo Kitenge reinforced his government’s full commitment to supporting the project and outlined some of the measures it will put in place to make it a success including:
- Allocating a number of hours in each school week to playing football
- Putting financial, structural, and operational means in place for the successful completion of the competitions and training of school supervisors
- Establishment of a local organizing committee specific to the final phase of the competition
- Ensuring that the school’s championship sees two women’s and two men’s teams qualify for future youth competitions on a pan-African level
SOURCE: Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
Cross Switch, a provider of class-leading payment solutions, has strengthened its African presence by officially launching services in Kenya and partnering with licensed local payment provider Pesawise.
This collaboration makes the most of Pesawise’s solid regulatory standing and trusted reputation, allowing Cross Switch to establish it’s footprint and, together with Pesawise, immediately deliver robust payment solutions to businesses, merchants and charitable organisations throughout Kenya.
Cross Switch brings to the partnership a highly scalable global payments infrastructure, allowing merchants simple and frictionless acceptance across multiple payment channels, including Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, mobile money and bank platforms.
Through Cross Switch’s unified platform, businesses can now take advantage of simplified payment processing, significantly reduced costs and faster transaction settlements.
The Cross Switch solution is tailored to support businesses of every shape and size, driving financial inclusion while at the same time empowering social impact organisations.
Numerous merchants across multiple sectors, including hospitality, e-commerce and delivery services and crypto (in approved markets) are already using Cross Switch’s innovative solutions on the African Continent and across Latin America. The confidence the Kenyan market has already shown in Cross Switch has already shown immediate effect in Kenya with the with Pesawise partnership.
Cross Switch has a powerful track record of success, and it relies on Pesawise, a nimble locally licensed payment provider with a young and dynamic management team, to contribute meaningfully to Cross Switch’s growth ambitions and customer-focused philosophy.
Cross Switch CEO Tim Davis said: “During the establishment phase of this partnership it is refreshing to see a shared common set of values with Pesawise, to provide our customers with best-in-class service levels and straightforward solutions. And a common mission to democratize technology and drive social impact across Africa. With their exceptional team and proven ability to provide relevant value-added services, we believe Pesawise will excel in the fast-moving fintech space.”
Pesawise, a fully regulated and authorised Payment Service Provider, is in good standing with the Central Bank of Kenya, ensuring rigorous compliance and secure handling of merchant funds in trusted Tier-1 banks.
Jamal Khan, CEO of Pesawise, said: “We’re thrilled to take this next step in our journey with Cross Switch as our technology partner. Their deep knowledge and robust technology solutions will enable us to provide innovative solutions tailored to the needs of emerging markets. Together, we aim to strengthen the digital payments ecosystem in Kenya. We’ve already secured key wins together—including supporting merchants like Glovo Kenya—through a combination of Cross Switch’s expertise and our dedicated local team.”
The post Cross Switch Bolsters African Footprint with Strategic Partnership with Pesawise appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Expanse Studios (GMGI) Partners with Bitville Gaming to Expand B2B Distribution Across Africa
This collaboration will extend the reach of Expanse Studios’ proprietary content portfolio across Bitville’s network of licensed online and retail operators throughout Africa and other emerging markets.
Bitville Gaming, known for its versatile aggregation solutions across online, retail, and POS channels, offers a strategic entry point for Expanse Studios into African and regional markets. This marks another step in GMGI’s ongoing global expansion, following its recent integrations in Europe, the U.S. sweepstakes space, and Latin America.
“We’re very pleased to align with Bitville Gaming, a proven B2B provider with strong market access in South Africa and beyond. Their focus on lottery, betting, and platform integrations makes them a natural fit for our customizable portfolio, which includes not only slots but also table games, scratch games, number and card-based games tailored to different market needs,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios“With this agreement, we are advancing our strategy of increasing content distribution efficiency while broadening our international footprint.”[Bitville Statement]
This partnership will include the distribution of Expanse’s 55+ proprietary games—spanning crash titles, slots, and table games—through Bitville’s aggregation infrastructure. The collaboration is expected to improve content access for regulated operators seeking fresh, mobile-first, and player-driven experiences.
The post Expanse Studios (GMGI) Partners with Bitville Gaming to Expand B2B Distribution Across Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Logifuture-powered Bet9ja renews support for Nigeria national team with ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign ahead of AFCON 2025
Extended partnership announced ahead of next week’s Unity Cup tournament in London
Leading African sportsbook Bet9ja has renewed its support for the Nigeria national team ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Bet9ja collaborated with Nigerian Football Federation partners Sportdotcom for AFCON 2023 to launch the first ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign – in reference to the fact Nigeria are hunting for their fourth continental title.
The partnership has now been extended for AFCON 2025 after Nigeria booked their place at the tournament, which kicks off in Morocco in December. The Super Eagles have been drawn alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda in Group C of the tournament.
The announcement comes ahead of next week’s Unity Cup tournament, in which Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago will go head to head at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium. The tournament sees semi-final matches on May 27 and May 28, ahead of the final on May 31.
Bet9ja is Nigeria’s leading sportsbook and is powered by Logifuture, global leader in B2B operations providing state-of-the-art iGaming products and services.
Bet9ja chairman Kunle Soname said: “We’re proud to renew our support for the Super Eagles as they ramp up their preparations for another tilt at the AFCON title. After lifting the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013 we’re backing them to go all the way again – Let’s Do It Again for 2025!
“Football is a unifying force across Africa and our partnership reflects our deep commitment to the game, the fans, and the future of Nigerian sport. This renewed partnership is about more than just brand alignment – it’s about national pride and shared ambition.
“By supporting the Super Eagles once again, Bet9ja aims to rally fans across Nigeria and beyond, reigniting the spirit of belief and unity that football brings to the nation.”
Toyosi Oyetunji, Senior Partner at Sportdotcom Limited, said: “At Sportdotcom, we are proud to once again partner with Bet9ja on the Let’s Do It Again campaign for the Super Eagles as they head to AFCON 2025 in Morocco. The buzz we created together during the last tournament was only the beginning. This time, we’re taking it to the next level – with more energy, more passion, and an unshakable belief in our team. As the Super Eagles chase a historic fourth title, we’re rallying Nigerians everywhere to dream big and stand united. Let’s Do It Again… Naija 4 the win!”
The post Logifuture-powered Bet9ja renews support for Nigeria national team with ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign ahead of AFCON 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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