Cairo, November 5, 2025 — Egypt is on track to become Africa’s top gaming market in 2025, generating $368 million in revenue and surpassing 20 million players, according to a new report from Maliyo Games. The report highlights Egypt’s growing dominance in monetisation and mobile gaming adoption, positioning it as a key driver of Africa’s expanding $2.1 billion gaming economy.
While Nigeria retains the continent’s largest gamer base — with 46.5 million players and revenue between $250–$300 million — Egypt’s stronger spending patterns and infrastructure maturity have given it the lead in market revenue. South Africa ranks next with 26.5 million gamers generating $278 million, while Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire continue to emerge, contributing $46 million and $31.9 million, respectively.
Mobile remains the backbone of African gaming, with 90% of Nigerian and Egyptian players gaming via smartphones. In Egypt, strong mobile accessibility and digital payment infrastructure are expected to sustain engagement and growth.
Esports is also gaining momentum across Africa, with total revenue forecast to exceed $60 million by 2025. Egypt ranks second regionally with $5–$7 million in esports revenue and 6 million viewers, trailing South Africa, which leads the segment with up to $10 million in revenue and 3 million viewers.
Hugo Obi, founder of Maliyo Games, praised Africa’s early pioneers for building the continent’s gaming and esports ecosystem despite infrastructure challenges. “Our desire to play, connect, and create is being met through digital and interactive spaces where the controller or phone becomes a portal to competition, collaboration, and community,” he said.
Egypt’s rise underscores how mobile-first innovation, payment integration, and strong user engagement are transforming Africa’s entertainment and digital economies, setting the stage for rapid industry growth in the coming years.
