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Rugby’s global expansion increases in Africa

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World Rugby’s reach across Africa grew further as Algeria and Burundi became full members of the international federation

Algeria and Burundi achieve full member status of international federation; World Rugby (www.WorldRugby.org) membership stands at 128 countries, including 19 associate members; Both nations will enter Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifying via the Rugby Africa Cup 2021; Rapid growth in African rugby being led by strategic focus on youth and women’s rugby; More than 350,000 registered female players recorded in Africa in 2020, up from 50,000 in 2012.

World Rugby’s reach across Africa grew further as Algeria and Burundi became full members of the international federation following approval at the World Rugby Council meeting, held virtually today.

The African nations were successful after achieving all the necessary criteria and their elevation to full member status sees World Rugby’s membership stand at 128, including 109 full members and 19 associate members.

See full List of World Rugby Member Unions >> (https://bit.ly/3tE9SRP)

The announcement follows the launch of World Rugby’s new Strategic Plan 2021-25 in April, which provides a framework for the continued development and expansion of rugby, supporting unions and regions in building capacity and capability, as the international federation strives to continue the journey towards becoming a global sport for all.

Both the Fédération Algérienne de Rugby and the Federation Burundaise de Rugby are full members of Rugby Africa and have sustainable women’s rugby and development programmes in place as they continue to grow as rugby nations.

Burundi currently has 2750 registered players and has been an associate member of World Rugby since 2004, while Algeria has over 80 men’s and 40 women’s teams and became an associate member in 2019.

Both countries will enter the qualification journey for Rugby World Cup 2023 as they are set to compete in the Rugby Africa Cup 2021. The competition begins with a repechage event in June before the group phase sees four pools of three teams each playing a round-robin tournament at a single venue per pool.

Burundi will compete in the Rugby Africa Cup repechage in Burkina Faso from 5-13 June which also includes Burkina Faso and Cameroon. The winner of the repechage will join Rugby Africa Cup Pool D in Tunisia in July together with Tunisia and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile Algeria will play in the Rugby Africa Cup Pool C in Kampala against Ghana and hosts Uganda from 10-18 July.

The best two teams from each pool qualify for Rugby Africa Cup 2022, which serves as the final round of the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifier for Africa. The eventual winner of the Rugby Africa Cup in August 2022 will qualify for RWC 2023 as Africa 1, entering group A alongside hosts France, while the runner-up will enter the final qualification tournament for another chance at qualifying.

Increasing the reach and diversity of the international federation’s membership represents a key element of World Rugby’s global growth strategy, ensuring that upon meeting the relevant criteria unions are provided with a framework and support to continue their growth and development as part of the World Rugby family.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We are very pleased to welcome Algeria and Burundi as full members, reflecting their commitment and progress in achieving the relevant criteria, thanks to the many talented coaches, administrators and volunteers involved in growing the sport.

“We are dedicated to the sustainable global growth of our sport, combined with strong governance and there is no doubt that Africa is a key region with huge potential for the future development of rugby. Africa is home to the current men’s Rugby World Cup winners and we will continue to work closely with Rugby Africa to ensure we provide emerging unions such as Algeria and Burundi with continuous support and a solid framework to further accelerate the growth of the sport across the region.”

Mr Khaled Babbou, President of Rugby Africa said: “I am delighted to welcome the Burundian and Algerian rugby unions as full members of World Rugby, bringing the total number of African member unions of World Rugby to 20. Rugby in Africa is growing rapidly and our strategic focus on youth and women’s rugby is evidence of this dynamic growth.

“In 2020, we recorded more than 350,000 registered female players in Africa, up from 50,000 in 2012. This is the result of a firm collective commitment from all African unions. I wish to congratulate Mr Albert Havyarimana, President of the Fédération Burundaise de Rugby and Mr Abdelkader Sofian Ben Hassen, President of the Fédération Algérienne de Rugby for their dedication and relentless efforts culminating in this recognition today. Both countries are in the running for Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification for the first time in their history and the entire African rugby family wishes them good luck in this new chapter.”

Albert Havyarimana, President of the Fédération Burundaise de Rugby: “This affiliation was long awaited by all the participants of Burundian rugby and comes as a reward for many years of hard work. From now on, it becomes a rugby legacy for Burundi, that we will seek to preserve and build upon for the development of rugby. It is an unforgettable event for the Fédération Burundaise de Rugby (FBR). Joining the global rugby family will enable Burundian rugby players to develop rugby on all levels.

“Although this recognition comes at a time when the world is going through a difficult situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are confident that we will overcome these challenges. Achieving this membership required great effort from all of us and it will now enable us to accelerate our growth. The FBR takes this opportunity to express its appreciation to all companies and individuals who committed themselves to bringing this journey to fruition, including various players and coaches of the clubs and their technical and medical staff.

“This membership, far from being an end in itself, is rather the beginning of a challenge and calls on all of us to step up our efforts to make Burundi Rugby shine at the regional and international levels.”

Sofiane Abdelkader Benhassen, President of the Fédération Algérienne de Rugby said: “This long-awaited membership of World Rugby as a full member will provide us with support in four main areas. It will allow us to accelerate the growth of the game in the country. Secondly, Algeria is currently ranked sixth in the African rankings, and will now come into the world rankings. We will from now on be able to participate in World Rugby’s General Assemblies and have a voice that counts. And finally, with this membership, Algeria can enter the qualification journey for the Olympic Games and the Men’s and Women’s Sevens and Rugby World Cups. I would like to thank Rugby Africa and its President, Khaled Babbou, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Olympic Committee and ACNOA as well as our private partners for their support. And I congratulate all the clubs presidents and founders of Algerian rugby and the entire union staff for their relentless efforts that have led us to this wonderful day.”

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Broadway Platform Partners with Ghanaian Operator Afrinova

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Broadway Platform, the all-in-one iGaming platform, has partnered with Ghanaian operator Afrinova as it further expands its footprint in the African continent.

The agreement will see Afrinova’s platform powered by Broadway’s full-service AI-powered product suite, including casino, as well as a complete payment, CRM and risk management solution, as the operator looks to grow its presence in its home market of Ghana.

Ghana, like many regulated African markets, offers significant growth opportunities, with increasing internet penetration, a young population and growing familiarity with betting products.

The Afrinova partnership is the latest commercial agreement secured by Broadway Platform, which has also strengthened its offering after a recent deal with Altenar.

Giorgi Samkharadze, Director of Broadway Platform, said: “Partnering with Afrinova is a really exciting moment for us as we strengthen our presence in one of Africa’s most exciting regulated markets.

“Our commitment to exceptional product delivery is unmatched, and we look forward to powering Afrinova’s market-leading offering for many years to come.”

Imad Hawwach, Managing Director at Afrinova, said: “Broadway Platform’s comprehensive back-end offering allows us to seamlessly deliver a best-in-class experience to our customers across Ghana. It’s an extremely exciting partnership for us, and one that allows us to stand apart from our competitors.”

The post Broadway Platform Partners with Ghanaian Operator Afrinova appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Amusnet Won Online Slot Supplier of the Year and Reinforced its Long-Term Vision at the iGaming Afrika Summit

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Amusnet arrived at the inaugural iGaming Afrika Summit with a clear position: it was not there to follow Africa’s iGaming growth, but to help shape it. Reinforcing that commitment beyond the exhibition floor, Cameron Green, Country Director South Africa at Amusnet, also joined the conference agenda as a featured speaker, contributing to key discussions around the future development of Africa’s gaming industry.

The company’s strong presence at the event was further recognised with the Online Slot Supplier of the Year award at the iGA Summit Awards, acknowledging Amusnet’s strong performance and growing impact across the African iGaming market.

Beyond the product showcase, Amusnet positioned itself as an active participant in Africa’s regulatory and commercial evolution. Across key markets including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, the company worked alongside operators, regulators and industry bodies to support a more structured and sustainable ecosystem.

Green took part in the panel discussion “Developed Markets: Strategies for Growing Africa’s Gaming Industry” alongside Thomas Nsongka, Managing Partner at Lion Bets, David Moshi, Managing Director of Velex Advisory Ltd, and Musa Mngadi, CEO of the African Lotteries & Gaming Association. The session was moderated by Job Weku, Business Development Manager Africa at FAZI Company.

Speaking during the panel, Green highlighted the increasing importance of localisation within African gaming markets.

“In the last 12–18 months, we’ve seen a clear shift from generic global content to locally adapted experiences that actually resonate with African players. It’s no longer enough to just translate a game, you need to localise mechanics, themes, volatility, even how jackpots are presented. The suppliers that understand cultural nuance and player behaviour are the ones driving stronger engagement and better lifetime value,” he said.

Addressing the relationship between operators and suppliers, Green also emphasised the need for stronger strategic alignment across the industry.

“Too many supplier–operator relationships in Africa are still transactional when they should be strategic. The operators winning today are the ones treating suppliers as growth partners, not just content vendors. That means sharing data, aligning on player value, and co-investing in performance. The reality is simple, if both sides aren’t making money sustainably, the partnership will break under pressure,” he noted.

At this year’s showcase, the focus moved beyond volume of content to performance that matters. Amusnet’s portfolio was built to deliver stronger session times, higher engagement, and improved player retention across regulated African markets. Proven titles like Shining Crown and Ca$hybara Ski Edition continued to perform consistently, while newer releases such as Caramelo Sortudo Crash Edition and Crazy Red reflected a sharper alignment with evolving player behaviour.

The Golden Coins Link Jackpot series further reinforced this approach, combining familiar mechanics with scalable jackpot structures that drove repeat play and sustained engagement. But the strategy did not stop online.

In a continent where retail still plays a dominant role, Amusnet’s ability to operate seamlessly across Land-based, Online, and Live casino environments gave operators a tangible edge. From immersive live products like Candy Wheel and Showtime Roulette 500, to Land-based solutions including Type S cabinets and the Amusebox platform, the offering was designed to bridge channels and maximise player value across touchpoints.

This hybrid strength proved particularly relevant in African markets, where infrastructure, regulation, and player habits differ significantly from one jurisdiction to the next.

For operators facing increasing pressure from taxation, compliance and rising acquisition costs, the focus remained straightforward: improving yield per player without increasing risk.

“We see Africa as a long-term build, not a short-term opportunity. Our role is to support regulated growth, build meaningful partnerships, and deliver products that genuinely move the needle for operators in this market,” added Green.

That approach was backed by a commercial model built on alignment. Through data-led optimisation, tailored volatility and rapid localisation, Amusnet worked closely with partners to improve performance at a market level. Co-investment in campaigns and a shared focus on measurable outcomes positioned the company as more than a supplier, but as a contributor to operator growth.

As Africa’s iGaming landscape continued to mature and move towards greater regulation and consolidation, the direction remained clear. Amusnet positioned itself on the right side of that shift: performance-led, locally aligned and built for the long game.

The post Amusnet Won Online Slot Supplier of the Year and Reinforced its Long-Term Vision at the iGaming Afrika Summit appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Jogabets migrates to VeliTech iGaming platform for Mozambique operations

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Jogabets, a licensed online betting operator in Mozambique, has migrated its operations to VeliTech’s iGaming core platform, the B2B supplier said.

VeliTech said the rollout is part of Jogabets’ growth strategy and is intended to strengthen its digital operations. Darren Calvia, Chief Product Officer at VeliTech, said Jogabets will use “the integrated VeliTech product suite, including the iGaming core system with built-in CRM, sportsbook platform, game aggregation capabilities, and exclusive crash and instant games.”

Calvia added: “Launching a brand like Jogabets isn’t just about going live — it’s about getting the fundamentals right from day one. The early performance and positive feedback from the Jogabets team confirm that when product, technology, and delivery are fully aligned, even complex migrations feel seamless. With the VeliTech platform at its core and a tailored mix of content and tools, the client is now well-positioned to deliver a high-performing player experience and rapid growth.”

Vasco Jafar, Marketing Manager at Jogabets, said the supplier supported local requirements: “We were particularly impressed by the VeliTech adeptness in navigating our intricate local compliance and payment provider requirements, given our specific operations in Africa. We have witnessed their exceptional professionalism and problem-solving capabilities firsthand.”

Mariam Mchedlishvili, Implementation Manager at VeliTech, said the launch is already showing early traction: “The successful launch of Jogabets in Mozambique is already delivering strong early results, with stable performance from day one and positive player engagement trends that confirm we’ve built the right foundation for growth. When an operator comes out of a launch confident and ready to scale, you know the work behind the scenes was done right. That’s what we aim for every time.”

The post Jogabets migrates to VeliTech iGaming platform for Mozambique operations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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