Table of Contents
Anas Badr Wins SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup 2026, and the Egyptian FC 26 star has pulled off one of the biggest comebacks of the tournament.
The Red Bull signed athlete saved his best football for when the pressure was highest. He knocked out Xmozaa. He knocked out Zaid April. Then he came back from the losers side to defeat Toxic Joe twice in the Grand Final and complete the bracket reset.
The reward? $4,000 and the SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup 2026 trophy.
Anas Badr Wins SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup 2026 After Incredible Comeback
Anas did not have a smooth road to the final. In fact, his journey became harder after he lost to Xmozaa in the Winners Bracket. Xmozaa beat him 7-6, sending the Egyptian star into the losers bracket.
ALSO READ: SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup Day 1 Recap: 7 East Africans Have Made the KOs
That could have been the end of the story. Instead, Anas started fighting. His first opponent in the lower bracket was Kenya’s Harry Kappa. Kappa had topped Group D on Day 1 with 18 points and earned a direct place in the Final Stage. But Anas was ruthless, crushing Kappa 13-6.
Then came another huge Kenyan name. Prorate.
The TR Esports star had already impressed with his performance earlier on against other top players, but Anas stopped his run with a 7-3 victory.
Now Anas was getting closer. But there was still one massive problem standing in his way. Xmozaa. The same player who had beaten him earlier. This time, Anas got his revenge. Anas Badr 5-3 Xmozaa. The Egyptian had just taken down one of the most dangerous players in the tournament. But he still wasn’t done.
Zaid April Was the Next Obstacle
While Anas was battling through the losers bracket, Zaid April was doing exactly what a defending champion should do. He was surviving. The South African representing Goliath Gaming had already eliminated several major names, including Kenya’s Shaq and Kappa. He also beat Xmozaa 8-6 in the Winners Bracket.
ALSO READ: SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup Groups Revealed: Prorate Drawn Into Group of Death
That sent Zaid into the Winners Final, where Toxic Joe eventually beat him 4 2. Zaid dropped into the losers final. Waiting for him was Anas. Everything was now on the line. One player would reach the Grand Final. The other would finish third. And Anas delivered, crushing his South African opponent 4-1.
How Anas Badr Did The Bracket Reset
The first Grand Final game was massive. Anas had just beaten defending champion Zaid April. Now there was only one player between him and the trophy – Toxic Joe.
ALSO READ: SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup 2026: How to Register and Everything You Need to Know
Anas won the first match 5-3. That meant the Grand Final was reset. Toxic Joe had lost his first match of the tournament’s final showdown, but the title would now be decided by one final game. There was no second chance after this, and Anas ensured he got the job done earlier on, thanks to a 6-3 win.
That was it. Anas was the champion.
A $10,000 Prize Pool Goes to the Best in Africa
The second edition of the SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup carried a $10,000 prize pool, making the Kigali tournament one of the biggest EA SPORTS FC 26 competitions on the African calendar.
The money was distributed as follows:
- 1st: $4,000
- 2nd: $2,000
- 3rd: $1,000
- 4th: $1,000
- 5th to 8th: $500 each
Anas therefore walks away with the biggest individual payday of the tournament. More importantly, he leaves Kigali with the title and reminder that he’s one of the best players in the world.
What About the East Africans?
For the East African players, the tournament ended without a finalist, but there were still plenty of positives. Kenya had three players reach the Final Stage. Kappa topped his group. Prorate reached the Final Stage after surviving the first bracket. Shaq also made it through Day 1.
Tanzania’s Hermes reached the Final Stage, while Uganda had Joabin, Bashir and Ezra survived the group stage. But one by one, they fell.
Kappa was eliminated by Anas. Prorate was eliminated by Anas. Shaq was eliminated by Zaid April. Hermes was eliminated by Randy. Joabin, Bashir and Ezra also saw their runs end.
In the end, the East African challenge was over before the final. But the experience matters. These players now know what the next level looks like. And they have something to build on.
Conclusion: Kigali Has a New Champion
The SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup arrived in Kigali with 32 players from across Africa and a $10,000 prize pool. It leaves with a new champion.
Anas Badr Wins SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup 2026, completing a comeback that looked unlikely when Xmozaa sent him into the losers bracket.
He had to beat one of last year’s finalists. Then another. Then the player waiting in the Grand Final. And he had to do it twice. Now the trophy belongs to Egypt.
The second SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup champion is Anas Badr. And if this tournament was supposed to show where African FC 26 esports is heading, Kigali just gave us a pretty good answer.
The level is getting higher. The names are getting bigger. And the battles are getting harder. Anas just proved he can survive all of it. Champion of SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup 2026.
Click this link to follow our WhatsApp channel and stay up to date with gaming news. You can also find us on Facebook, X and Instagram to for the latest East African and global happenings in the gaming world.
