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

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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Africa

Tanzania Gaming Board Warns Families About Risks Posed by Betting on PlayStation Games

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The Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) has warned parents about the risks posed by betting on PlayStation games, urging families to take action.

Last week, Daniel Olesumayan, Acting Director General of GBT, addressed the issue during a meeting with media editors organised by the Treasury Registrar’s Office.

The gathering aimed to increase awareness about gambling activities and clarify the GBT’s regulatory responsibilities. Olesumayan stressed the importance of keeping children away from gambling, highlighting that it is primarily the parents’ duty to supervise their children’s gadget usage.

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“As parents, we must protect our children. It is important to track how they use gadgets intended to stimulate their minds. PlayStation games turned into gambling must only operate in board-approved locations,” he said.

The growth of Tanzania’s gambling industry is evident, with the GBT registering 62 companies and issuing a remarkable 8549 licenses in the 2024/25 financial year.

This number includes licenses for various activities, such as the National Lottery and sports betting, with some companies holding multiple licenses to operate different types of gambling across various locations.

“The sector’s tax revenue surged by 97 percent, from Sh131.9 billion in 2020/21 to Sh260 billion in 2024/25,” Mr Olesumayan said.

He also noted that the ability to place bets as low as Sh1000 has contributed to the impressive growth.

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Even with recent advancements, the GBT still faces significant challenges, particularly with illegal slot machines that operate without registration. These machines often attract children, posing risks not only to minors but also to the integrity of the gambling sector.

To tackle these issues, GBT is looking to the future with plans to utilise technology for better management of the industry and also enhance the skills of staff for more effective oversight. The regulator has also established more zonal offices and recently banned foreigners from operating slot machines.

Additionally, the board is set to launch a nationwide responsible gaming campaign aimed at educating young people about the dangers of problem gambling and promoting safer gaming habits.

The post Tanzania Gaming Board Warns Families About Risks Posed by Betting on PlayStation Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Africa

Ghana Gaming Commission Introduces Mandatory Biometric Verification

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The Ghana Gaming Commission has introduced a significant change to the gambling industry by mandating biometric identification for every bet placed within the country. This new rule applies to all forms of gambling including online and physical sportsbooks, casinos and promotional games. Alongside recent tax reforms, this measure represents a strong move toward modernising and securing the gambling landscape in Ghana.

Gambling operators are now required to integrate their platforms with the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) database. Every player must verify their identity using fingerprint or facial recognition technology both at the point of placing bets and when claiming winnings. The only acceptable form of identification will be the Ghana Card, issued by the NIA.

According to Emmanuel Siki Quainoo, the acting commissioner of the Gaming Commission, this initiative aims to protect the industry from criminal misuse and enforce stricter responsible gambling measures. It is designed to slow down betting activities, allowing players to make more thoughtful decisions regarding their gambling behaviour.

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Operators have a strict timeline of just one month to fully implement and test these biometric verification systems. Non-compliance could result in suspension of licenses or refusal of renewals, as the Commission has pledged to enforce these regulations rigorously without exceptions.

The primary goals behind these updated regulations are to prevent fraud and stop underage gambling. Additionally, these measures aim to increase transparency in the gambling industry, which has been scrutinised over possible money laundering and unmonitored cash flows. By associating all gambling transactions with verified biometric data, authorities can more effectively monitor and identify irregular activities.

The mandatory biometric checks also enhance responsible gambling protections. Regulatory bodies can monitor dangerous betting behaviors, impose limits on spending, and provide exclusion options for self-excluded players. This policy is part of a larger national digital initiative that uses identity-based verification across multiple regulated sectors.

The post Ghana Gaming Commission Introduces Mandatory Biometric Verification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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QTech Games recruits Agatha Wanjugu as Sales Manager for East Africa

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Leading distributor for emerging markets announces the fulfilment of its new dedicated role for East Africa, based in Kenya

QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has recruited Agatha Wanjugu for the new role of Sales Manager for East Africa, as it continues its concerted push into the African market.

Based in Kenya, Agatha joins QTech Games after successful stints at iGaming Afrika, where she served with distinction as Business Development Manager – and, more recently, Pragmatic Play where she spent several years as Account Manager for Africa. In this previous position, she routinely proved herself in both account management and business development capacities, building and maintaining enduring client relationships, collaborating with sales forces and technical departments to optimise the overall customer experience.

This experience has seen Agatha establish a reputation as a natural leader with a communicative and consultative approach. Her igaming insights and recommendations for the region have helped deliver on revenue targets and inform strategic guidance, advancing the sales cycle and populating its pipeline with new leads.

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Now Agatha brings those transferable skills to bear at the sector’s leading aggregator for developing markets, where she will be responsible for managing and growing QTech’s existing partners in East Africa.

QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re thrilled that Agatha is already underway in her new role at QTech Games, as we train our sights and broaden our scope across East Africa. She is a precocious and natural sales lead and account manager, with the ability to develop client growth or retention strategies.

“She’ll be a true asset to both QTech Games and all our clients, as we grow in Africa to make it a substantial part of our total revenue mix. We have high growth ambitions here in the coming years. Ultimately, we want to dominate and build a stellar and agile brand in the region.”

Agatha Wanjugu added: “I’m excited to be starting at QTech Games, and really feel they have given me the support to put my shoulder to the wheel for expansion in this bubbling and evolving marketplace.

“I’ll be responsible for managing QTech’s existing East African partners, alongside stewarding our expansion into neighbouring local territories. I’ve always based my business relationships on the ability to add value. Working with QTech, I’ve not only found a string of products that complement the different igaming verticals but also a strong, experienced team who are client-focused and always eager to make it work for the client.”

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The post QTech Games recruits Agatha Wanjugu as Sales Manager for East Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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