By Francis Kargbo, Media Relations InternAfricell Sierra Leone’s National E-sports Gaming Competition concluded on Saturday, September 5, 2026, catapulting the country’s competitive gaming scene into the national spotlight. The country’s new national e-sports champion is Mike Dudley Johnson of the Northern Region, who won in a thrilling grand final at the AYV Complex.
Talented young gamers from across Sierra Leone attended the competition, having qualified through regional qualifiers in the Northern, South East, and Western regions. The last round was hotly contested, with three qualifiers from each region battling for regional pride and national honours.
Johnson beat Samuel Jobe of Freetown West in a tense and closely watched final game to win the title. Jobe placed second as National First Runner-Up, and James Sawyer, who qualified for the final as Southeast Region champion, placed third as National Second Runner-Up. The top three winners received cash prizes and the opportunity to represent Sierra Leone in Angola at the international level: NLe20,000 for the national champion, NLe10,000 for the first runner-up, and NLe5,000 for the second runner-up.
The Sierra Leone Esports Federation organised the tournament to find the country’s best players and to promote esports as an emerging avenue for youth talent, entertainment, and digital engagement. The federation’s oversight provided legitimacy and structure for the event, helping build a competitive yet organised esports ecosystem in Sierra Leone.
The road to the national final displayed the strength and regional diversity of Sierra Leone’s gaming community. From the early qualifying rounds in the major regions all the way up to the sold-out AYV Complex for the grand final, there were plenty of opportunities for new players to show what they can do and get some exposure throughout the event. The crowd also participated in predictions for the crucial final match. Supporters and viewers contributed to the heightened atmosphere. Those who got the predictions right got 2GB of free Africell data as a promotional gesture to keep the audience interested throughout the event.
One interesting feature of the tournament was the growing presence of female players at high levels of competition. Agnes Zainab Seray Wurrie was the sole female to reach the national final. Wurrie reached the semi-finals but was eliminated, and her performance sent a strong message about boosting female participation in a space traditionally dominated by young men. Her semi-final appearance is a good sign for the future of gender inclusivity in Sierra Leonean esports.
The national final was a vibrant display of talent, camaraderie and competitive spirit, not just the podium finishes and the prizes. Players, coaches and fans cheered individual accomplishments and the collective development of a local gaming culture that’s becoming more structured and more visible.
The trio are set to don the Sierra Leone colours in Angola, and the focus will be on how Johnson, Jobe and Sawyer perform on the international stage and what their involvement could mean for Sierra Leone’s face in African esports. Africell Sierra Leone’s success in the competition shows the company’s commitment to engaging youth through technology, entertainment, and innovation, and to raising awareness of esports across the country. “The event is a great step forward in the further development of competitive gaming as a platform for talent development and national representation.
