Africa

Youth football and unity take centre stage in Côte d’Ivoire

Published

5 years ago

May 6, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Focus on promoting unity, developing and strengthening football governance

FIFA and CAF presidents visited Côte d’Ivoire to begin two-day itinerary; Focus on promoting unity, developing and strengthening football governance; Continent’s inaugural pan-African inter-school football championship also launched.

The presidents of CAF and FIFA travelled to Côte d’Ivoire on Monday as part of their first joint mission in Africa since the election of Dr Patrice Motsepe as the confederation’s new president in March. Central to their two-day itinerary were meetings with government and football officials, with the focus on promoting unity and serenity, developing and strengthening the country’s football governance and launching the continent’s inaugural pan-African inter-school football championship in Abobo, a municipality just outside the country’s capital Abidjan.

Arriving in Abidjan they were greeted by members of the normalisation committee of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), including President Mariam Dao Gabala, who along with her colleagues has been responsible for bringing football back into play in Côte d’Ivoire.

An official dinner was hosted for the delegation by Ivorian Minister for the Promotion of Youth, Professional Integration and Civic Service, Mamadou Touré, in the presence of Minister for National Education and Literacy, Marietou Koné. Addressing the gathering CAF President Dr Motsepe underlined the unifying power of football being more important than differences between diverse groups of people. He was also keen to highlight CAF’s robust support for the West African nation stating: “Côte d’Ivoire has CAF’s total commitment and 2023’s AFCON here will be the best ever.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino bolstered this message further saying: “We need to work together to make football great and make the millions of passionate fans in Côte d’Ivoire, a country that has won the AFCON twice and will soon host it, happy.”

Present at the event to provide their support for the joint CAF/FIFA mission were CAF’s four vice presidents, presidents of the five CAF zonal unions and presidents from CAF Member Associations in West Africa Football Zone Union B.

This morning, the CAF and FIFA delegation’s focus was on viewing the work of the FIF normalisation ccommittee first hand, in order to understand what had been completed and the challenges it has faced. Addressing the assembled media outside the FIF building Dr Motsepe congratulated President Gabala and her team on their outstanding work and strong commitment to bringing peace and unity back to Ivorian football.

This sentiment was echoed by FIFA President Infantino who underlined the progress the FIF had made, particularly with the organisation of an elective congress, which it hopes to hold by the end of the year. “Côte d’Ivoire has the unwavering support of FIFA,” he said.

The joint delegation then travelled to the Ministry of Sports for a meeting with Minister Claude Paulin Danho. Discussions covered the country’s hosting of next year’s AFCON competition, and improving football governance. Speaking to the minister, Infantino expressed FIFA’s commitment and willingness to work hand in hand with the Ivorian authorities to “reinvigorate Ivorian football, especially given the outstanding talent it has produced. The football legends from Côte d’Ivoire have greatly contributed to building football history in Africa and across the world,” he said.

Ivorian Legends were very much pivotal to talks amongst the three men, with the CAF president reminiscing with Minister Danho about Siaka Tiéné, a young Ivorian player who had been one of his favourites due to his talent and passion, when Dr Motsepe ran South African football club Mamelodi Sundowns, prior to his election as CAF president.

The delegation were then received by the President of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, at the Presidential Palace. During the meeting the joint delegation stressed the outstanding talent in the country and the need to harness this through the development of youth football and CAF’s first ever pan-African inter-school football championship.

Following the discussions with the Ivorian Head of State, Infantino said: “President Ouattara is a great fan of football, so it is an honour to be here today to talk about how we can work together to support the youth of this country through the beautiful game. Côte d’Ivoire is a county with a legacy of talented footballers and many future ones yet to be discovered, so it is important for Africa and the rest of the footballing world that FIFA, CAF and the Ivorian authorities work together to develop the game and elevate it to the highest of heights.”

The final engagement of the day for the CAF/FIFA joint delegation was the launch of the pan-African inter-school football championship in Abobo. Fittingly, a football match featuring mixed teams of schoolchildren kicked off the initiative, with both presidents putting their technical and tactical football skills to the test as team coaches.

Following the match Dr Motsepe announced that the Motsepe Foundation, founded by himself and his wife Precious Moloi-Motsepe, would make a donation of USD $10 million to the ground-breaking new pan-African inter-school football championship, which will take place across the six zonal regions of CAF. After the match, the FIFA President said: “The gesture from the Motsepe Foundation, Patrice and his wife Precious, is exceptional. It’s a step forward for this competition that will give hope and joy to thousands of children in Côte d’Ivoire and throughout Africa who love football. Thank you to the Motsepe family for showing us Ubuntu in action.”

The joint delegation ended their visit to Côte d’Ivoire with a press conference focused on the African league, the development of women’s football, strengthening football governance, this November’s FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar and how to bridge divisions in Ivorian football. Both the CAF and FIFA presidents also outlined the plans to roll out the inaugural pan-African inter-school championship in Côte d’Ivoire to the assembled Ivorian and African media.

Africa

Hollywoodbets to deploy ClearStake’s ID by Bank for improved player verification

Published

5 days ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

hollywoodbets-to-deploy-clearstake’s-id-by-bank-for-improved-player-verification

Hollywoodbets has agreed to integrate ClearStake’s ID by Bank solution as the operator looks to streamline and enhance its customer due diligence (CDD) processes.

Through the partnership, Hollywoodbets customers in the United Kingdom will soon be able to verify their identity within seconds using their banking app, removing the need to manually upload identity documents.

ClearStake’s technology is also proven to significantly reduce the operational workload associated with CDD checks.

Tyla Labuschagne, Compliance Manager at Hollywoodbets, said: “Customer due diligence is a critical part of operating responsibly. By integrating ClearStake’s ID by Bank solution, we can make identity verification faster and more intuitive for customers, while significantly reducing the manual workload for our teams. This allows us to improve compliance outcomes, streamline operations and remove friction at key moments in the player journey.”

Martin Burt, CEO of ClearStake, added: “One of the biggest challenges operators face is completing customer due diligence efficiently without creating unnecessary friction for customers or operational teams. By enabling customers to verify their identity securely through their banking app via ID by Bank, operators like Hollywoodbets can complete CDD checks in seconds, reduce reliance on manual document reviews and strengthen compliance outcomes.”

The post Hollywoodbets to deploy ClearStake’s ID by Bank for improved player verification appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Africa

Booming Games teams up with Agreegain to power continued African growth

Published

5 days ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-teams-up-with-agreegain-to-power-continued-african-growth

Booming Games has teamed up with Agreegain to drive growth in various markets throughout Africa.
Booming Games will utilize Agreegain’s aggregation platform to link with casino operators throughout the continent.

Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has today revealed a strategic alliance with Agreegain, a rapidly expanding iGaming solutions provider. This action will stimulate a fresh surge of growth for Booming Games throughout Africa, as the company aims to quickly broaden its international footprint in regulated markets.

The collaboration will link Booming Games with numerous casino operators in Africa via Agreegain’s game aggregation platform, employing advanced technology to provide compliant, quick integrations effortlessly. Booming Games’ titles will be accessible on Agreegain’s API platform, utilized by top operators throughout Africa. The platform features more than 10,000 games, which encompass slots, live casino options, and table games.

Booming Games is launching more titles than ever and aims to enhance both the quantity and quality of its lineup in 2026. Teaming up with Agreegain further exemplifies its commitment to delivering top-notch games to players worldwide, as Booming Games will extend the availability of these titles throughout Africa.

The collaboration reinforces Booming Games’ dedication to providing an exceptional experience for players through the use of advanced technology. With each new game, Booming Games also creates customized content for specific markets. The gaming sector in Africa has recently exceeded $600 million in revenue, presenting a distinct opportunity for Booming Games to grow its offerings.

Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, said: “We are thrilled to announce our new strategic partnership with Agreegain, marking an exciting milestone forward in enhancing our gaming offering. This collaboration strengthens our commitment in delivering innovative gaming experience and engaging gameplay to players globally.”

Maria Afzaal, Senior Partner Manager at Agreegain, said: “Partnering with Booming Games marks an exciting step forward in expanding our portfolio with a leading provider known for its dynamic and engaging slot content. Licensed in all major jurisdictions, most notably Malta and the United Kingdom, Booming Games demonstrates a strong commitment to quality, compliance, and innovation — making them a valuable addition to our growing network of trusted global partners.”

The post Booming Games teams up with Agreegain to power continued African growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Africa

Blueprint Gaming Expands into South Africa Through Strategic Partnership with Hollywoodbets

Published

6 days ago

March 9, 2026

Wladimir P.

blueprint-gaming-expands-into-south-africa-through-strategic-partnership-with-hollywoodbets

Blueprint Gaming has enhanced its foothold in the South African market via a major alliance with top operator Hollywoodbets, offering a wider range of its globally acclaimed slot titles to players in the area.

Although Blueprint has been operational in South Africa since late 2025, this agreement signifies its initial significant launch with a top-tier operator in the country, highlighting a key advancement in its long-term regional plan.

Through the collaboration, Hollywoodbets will launch a variety of Blueprint’s most recognized and top-performing games, featuring its successful Cash Strike series and the consistently favored Fishin’ Frenzy, along with a selection of celebrated IP-based titles like Ted.

Blueprint has established a reputation for merging well-known intellectual property with robust mathematical models and focused gameplay, producing titles that consistently appeal across regulated markets. The addition of this portfolio to Hollywoodbets’ live game selection further enriches the operator’s content variety, offering players reliable games supported by global performance credentials.

South Africa ranks among the most advanced and established gaming markets in Africa, backed by a strong regulatory system and a rich history of retail betting. As digital adoption speeds up and online casinos keep rising in popularity, the market offers substantial long-term growth opportunities for high-quality content providers.

Through a collaboration with Hollywoodbets, one of the leading betting brands in the country, Blueprint gains instant access to a vast, active customer base along with extensive local market knowledge. The partnership enables the studio to achieve significant growth in South Africa, while also creating a strategic base for broader expansion throughout the African continent.

Sam Haggblom, Director of Business Development at Blueprint Gaming, said: “South Africa represents a compelling opportunity for Blueprint. It is a mature and well-established market with a clear appetite for high-quality online casino content.

“Introducing our wide and performance-focused portfolio through Hollywoodbets allows us to showcase the depth and versatility of our games to a new audience. We see strong long-term potential not only in South Africa but across the wider African landscape.”

Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, added: “Blueprint Gaming’s portfolio has delivered consistent results across multiple regulated markets worldwide.

“The addition of established brands such as Cash Strike and Fishin’ Frenzy further strengthens our online casino offering, enabling us to continue providing players with proven, high-quality and internationally recognised content.”

The post Blueprint Gaming Expands into South Africa Through Strategic Partnership with Hollywoodbets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.