- Xmozzaa, Adam Hatake, Kaylan and iSpecialH have secured Africa’s four places at the FC Pro 27 Global Qualifier in London.
- Kenya’s Shaq and Lil Tunechi competed among the 128 African qualifiers, with Shaq travelling to Morocco ahead of the regional competition.
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The FC Pro 27 Africa Qualifiers have produced four players who will represent the region at the Global Qualifier in London, following a demanding two-day competition that brought together some of Africa’s strongest EA SPORTS FC players.
Egypt’s Xmozzaa, Morocco’s Adam Hatake, South Africa’s Kaylan and iSpecialH are the four players who secured their tickets to the next stage of EA’s professional FC pathway.
Meanwhile, Kenya had two players in the African field: Shaq and Lil Tunechi. Both had already earned places among the 128 players advancing from the FC Pro Open Ladder, but the Regional Qualifier was a much tougher test, with only four tickets available.
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FC PRO 27 Africa Qualifiers: Four Players Are Heading to London
The African Regional Qualifier concluded with four players securing the opportunity to compete at the FC Pro Open Global Qualifier, scheduled for November 5-7 in London.
Xmozzaa defeated Dexx Junior in one of the most anticipated fixtures of Day 2 before the Senegalese lost to South Africa’s Kaylan the deciding match in the losers bracket.
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Kaylan also earned one of the four available spots, alongside iSpecialH, who is a free agent from Egypt.
For these players, the achievement is bigger than winning a regional tournament. They have earned a place at an international event where they will face competitors from other regions, including established names from the wider FC Pro scene.
Their next challenge will be to make the most of that opportunity in London.
How the FC Pro 27 Africa Qualifiers Worked
The road to London began with the in-game FC Pro Open Ladder, which ran from September 21 to October 3. Africa received 128 places in the Regional Qualifiers, based on players’ highest peak placement during the ladder.
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The Regional Qualifier then unfolded over two days.
Day 1: Swiss stage
The 128 African qualifiers competed in a Swiss-format stage. Players were eliminated after recording three losses, while those who finished with two losses or fewer advanced to the second day.
Day 2: Double elimination
The remaining competitors entered a double-elimination bracket, where they fought for the four places available to Africa.
There was very little room for error. Players who had survived the ladder still needed to navigate another difficult stage, and only a handful could continue their journey towards the FC Pro Open.
Four places were available. Four players took them. Click this link to see the tournament’s challonge/bracket.
Shaq Took Kenya’s Hopes to Morocco
Shaq was one of the Kenyan players who made it through the ladder and into the African Top 128.
The Kenyan star travelled to Morocco, ahead of the competition. Although the Regional Qualifier was an online event rather than an in-person tournament, Shaq’s trip was part of his preparations for the matches.
It was another major step in a year that had already seen him win eLigue 1, qualify for the Esports Nations Cup, win the Rivalry Series alongside Prorate in Nigeria and compete at the SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup in Rwanda.
His FC Pro 27 journey began with the same ambition as every other player in the African field: reach the Global Qualifier and get closer to the professional stage.
But the competition was unforgiving. Shaq did not secure one of the four tickets to London, meaning his run ended before the next stage.
That does not take away from the achievement of making the African Top 128 in the first place. The Regional Qualifier brought him into direct competition with some of the continent’s strongest players, and the experience gives him another benchmark to work from as the FC Pro season continues.
Lil Tunechi Also Represented Kenya
Shaq was not the only Kenyan in the competition.
Lil Tunechi, a recognized player from Kisumu and Western Kenya, also qualified for the African Regional Qualifier and competed from Kenya.
Both players had done the hard work of advancing through the ladder, but neither managed to claim one of the four places available to Africa.
Their participation still matters.
Getting into the Regional Qualifier meant surviving the initial ladder and earning a place among Africa’s 128 selected competitors. That is a significant achievement, even when the next hurdle proves too difficult.
For Kenya, Shaq and Lil Tunechi provided two players to follow in a competition where the margins were narrow and the reward for a strong run was enormous.
London Is the Next Test
The four African qualifiers will now prepare for the FC Pro Open Global Qualifier, which runs from November 5 to 7 in London.
The event will feature 64 players: 52 competitors coming through the regional qualification process and 12 directly invited players. From that field, 16 players will advance to the FC Pro Open.
That means the African qualifiers are not yet at the final destination.
They have earned the chance to compete on a bigger stage, but they will face another difficult test against players from the other regions and experienced FC Pro competitors.
For Xmozzaa, Adam Hetake, Kaylan and iSpecialH, the focus now shifts to preparation for London. The next stage offers the chance to turn a strong African campaign into a place among the 16 players who will reach the FC Pro Open.
Why This Matters for Kenyan and African FC
The Regional Qualifier showed both the opportunity and the difficulty of EA’s professional pathway.
Africa received 128 places at this stage, but only four players could progress. That puts the achievement of securing a London ticket into perspective.
It also gives Kenyan players useful information about the level they need to reach. Shaq and Lil Tunechi made the African Top 128, demonstrating that they could qualify through the ladder, even though neither advanced to London.
For East African fans, their campaigns provide a reason to keep following the region’s players in future FC Pro competitions. International qualification is not simply about reputation; every stage brings another test against players trying to reach the same destination.
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