The National e-Soccer League has commenced across multiple divisions in Nigeria to identify and refine emerging talent in the country’s gaming industry.
Promoted by Cade eSports and Game Evolution, the extensive 2026 programme for Nigeria’s National e-Soccer League, outlined a development pipeline that runs from grassroots competitions to elite African and international tournaments.
The roadmap was recently presented at a press conference in Lagos by Chima Chima Paulson, CEO and founder of Cade eSports, and Adenipebi Sholakunmi, CEO and founder, Game Evolution, as both organisations reaffirmed their strategic partnership to scale competitive gaming across Africa.
Paulson explained that the 2026 calendar is designed as a continuous journey for players, fans and partners, culminating in KH26 (KH-African Gaming eSports), scheduled for late November.
Under the structure, Division 3 opens the season on January 17, followed by Division 2, a national league of 20 players competing every weekend from January through early March. Matches will be streamed live, with the league serving as a scouting ground for Nigeria’s next generation of professional e-soccer players. After a short break for promotion and fan engagement, Division 1 will begin in April, featuring 16 players, eight qualifiers from Division 2 and eight returning elite players, over a five-week period.
The total prize pool across the league stands at N5 million, covering the Pro Division, Division 1 and the Grand Prix category. Beyond the domestic league, Cade eSports plans to stage a Nigeria–Ghana rivalry series in June, bringing together the top four players from both countries, before taking selected competitions to London between July and August as part of its international expansion drive.
Paulson said KH26 will build on the momentum of the 2024 edition, expanding participation to eight African countries and featuring six competitive titles, including EAFC, Fortnite, Free Fire, Street Fighter, Just Dance and Chess, in a three-day festival of gaming.
Sholakunmi, whose company serves as a consulting and ecosystem partner, said the broader objective is to reposition gaming in Nigeria as a legitimate career pathway rather than a recreational pastime. He noted that the ecosystem has supported more than 12,000 gamers in recent years and is targeting the training of 50,000 gamers annually through community-based initiatives.
Central to this approach is the Onile eSports Tournament, a Lagos-focused grassroots competition delivered in partnership with 20 local governments and neighbourhood gaming centres. Winners from these local tournaments are integrated into the professional league structure, creating a clear progression from community play to national recognition.
Sholakunmi also revealed plans for a large-scale gaming and eSports technology hub in Lagos, designed to host over 1,000 gamers simultaneously, train game developers and attract international tournaments and investors. He said the long-term ambition is to draw significant foreign investment into Nigeria’s gaming industry while enabling young people to earn sustainable incomes from esports.
