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SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup groups are finally out, and Kenya’s four representatives now know the road they must travel if they want to reach the knockout stage in Kigali.
The tournament kicks off tomorrow, September 12, at 10:00 AM Kenyan time at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Thirty two players have been placed into four groups, although Group D is currently incomplete. And the rule is simple. Only the top two players from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
That means there is almost no room for a slow start.
Group A: Shaq Faces a Tough Opening Test
Kenya’s Shaq has been placed in Group A alongside seven other players.
The group is:
- Shaq
- Joabin
- Samy
- KillerFreak
- Toxic_Joe
- DZ_Galacticos 🇩🇿
- SahilM4
- Nissad
Shaq immediately has some familiar names to deal with. KillerFreak was one half of Nigeria’s team during the Rivalry Series in Lagos, while SahilM4 is already well known to Kenyan FC fans after facing several of the country’s top players.
Shaq also arrives with plenty of big stage experience behind him. He recently helped Kenya win the Rivalry Series alongside Prorate and is now stepping into another major continental competition.
ALSO READ: Kenya Wins Rivalry Series as Prorate Goes Unbeaten
But the objective is different this time. He has to finish inside the top two.
Group B: Dav8 Gets Xmozaa
Dav8 has been drawn into Group B.
His group contains:
- Dav8
- Bashir
- Tresor
- Mitch
- Xmozaa
- King1LL
- Hamza Moosa
- NHaych7
The biggest name here is clearly Xmozaa. The Egyptian was runner up at the inaugural SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup after losing the 2025 final to South Africa’s Zaid April.
ALSO READ: SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup 2026: How to Register and Everything You Need to Know
NHaych7 is also one to watch as he plays in the ePremier League for Chelsea. That makes this a particularly interesting test for Dav8. The Santiago eHub player has spent much of his recent career trying to establish himself among Kenya’s strongest FC players. Now he gets to measure himself against some of Africa’s most experienced tournament players.
Group C: Prorate Lands in the Group of Death
Then we get to the group that looks absolutely ridiculous on paper.
Group C is the group of death.
- Prorate
- Aksam
- Franklin
- KingNonex
- Anas Badrio
- Hermes
- Zaid April
- Griffey
Just look at the names.
Prorate. AnasBadr. Hermes. Zaid April. Aksam. Griffey. This is not the kind of group where you can afford to have an off day. Prorate comes into Kigali in incredible form after winning the Rivalry Series in Lagos.
He won all four matches he played, finished top of the individual leaderboard and was named Player of the Tournament. Now he has perhaps his toughest test yet.
AnasBadr Is No Ordinary Opponent
AnasBadrio brings experience from the FC Pro Open, where he competed against some of the world’s best players. The Egyptian made headlines after defeating nicolas99fc, one of the biggest names in competitive FC, during his run.
Then there is Hermes, who has dominated the Tanzanian FC scene and has already built a reputation among East Africa’s strongest players.
Zaid April needs almost no introduction. The South African is the defending SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup champion, having beaten Xmozaa in last year’s final.
And Aksam knows this tournament better than most. The Ugandan reached the semifinals of the inaugural edition in 2025.
Then there is Griffey, who brings ePremier League experience into Kigali after representing Fulham in this year’s competition. He will represent the Democratic Republic of Congo at SportsBiz.
That is why Group C deserves the group of death label. There are experienced players everywhere you look. And only two survive.
Group D: Kappa’s Group Is Not Complete Yet
Harry Kappa has been placed in Group D.
The currently listed players are:
- Kappa
- Uganda1
- Praise
- Faruk Manzo
- Tresor
- Randy
- Kyran
- Alm7gmg
ALSO READ: Harry Kappa: Career, Achievements and Journey in Kenyan Esports
Kappa and Faruk already faced each other at last year’s Sportsbiz tournament and the two settled for a draw in the tensed fixture.
SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup groups: Kigali Is Ready
The players are already in Rwanda. The groups are out. The stage is set. Now the talking stops. For Kenya’s four representatives, the first target is not the trophy. It is survival. Finish in the top two. Get through the group. Then worry about everything else.
SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup groups have set up two days of what could be some of the most competitive FC 26 action Africa has seen this year. Tomorrow at 10:00 AM, Kigali gets the answer. Who survives?
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