Press Releases
Orange holds first Pan-African football tournaments enabling youth to be actors of positive change, to tackle plastic waste, via their passion for football

Orange, a major partner of African football since 2008, is the official sponsor of the AFCON for the 7th time in a row
The Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 is a major event on the continent and this year’s edition is eagerly awaited following its postponement in 2021 due to the Covid crisis. In the lead up to the big event and as official sponsor, Orange (www.Orange.com) has held a series of ‘Orange Sponsors Change’ regional football tournaments across its footprint enabling 12-13-year-olds to play football and collect plastic waste in exchange for rewards and the chance to be celebrated during the AFCON final on February 6th. All the regional tournament winners will then be invited to the International final of ‘Orange Sponsors Change’ next spring for an unforgettable experience.
The competition, running from 9th January to 6th February 2022, will be held in six stadiums in five cities across the country. Out of the 24 teams that have qualified, 11 belong to a country where Orange is present: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.
Passion with a purpose – the genesis of “Orange Sponsors Change”
The Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 provides Orange with an opportunity to reiterate its environmental commitments. Plastic waste is now one of the world’s biggest problems and Orange believes it can play a role in combating this issue.
“Orange Sponsors Change” is a unique program which was first launched 2018 in Liberia and Cameroon and then successfully extended in 2019 to Egypt and Tunisia. With fans’ passion for football and a participative approach at its core, ‘Orange Sponsors Change’ gives all football fans and young players the opportunity to enjoy their passion for football whilst having a positive impact on their communities and the planet. Fans are encouraged to collect and recycle their plastic waste via recycling bins during the tournaments, and in return for their recycling efforts, Orange works with local companies to recycle the plastic collected and return them to fans and their communities in the form of soccer jerseys, balls and even soccer fields constructed exclusively from recyclable materials.
“Orange Sponsors Change,” a pan-African program premiere
This year, Orange wanted to take advantage of its partnership with the largest African sporting event to extend and promote Orange Sponsors Change in 12 countries on the continent (Morocco, Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Cameroon, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, CAR, DRC) and give it a new pan-African dimension.
This first Pan-African edition encouraged 12-13 year-olds to participate in local qualifying tournaments while collecting plastic waste, and the first local tournaments mobilized thousands of young people and their families and achieved tonnes of plastic waste collection, for example:
- In Cameroon, football players who participated in Orange Sponsors Change joined forces with the Orange “Clean Your City” initiative to collect waste in seven cities across the country. In total, 1,300 volunteers roamed the streets to collect 14 tonnes of plastic which will be transformed into football equipment and redistributed to football academies in Cameroon.
- In Côte d’Ivoire, 500 players from 50 different clubs across the country took part in the competition, collecting over 19 tonnes of plastic that will be transformed into construction equipment.
During the AFCON
The stadiums will be filled with Orange tap-taps enabling fans to support their team and share their passion. This year all the tap-taps will no longer be made of plastic but recycled biodegradable potato starch, reflecting Orange’s commitment to the reduction of plastic waste. In addition, Orange will be providing young players across it’s footprint with 20,000 balls made from recycled rubber, so they can continue to enjoy their passion for football long after the big event.
Béatrice Mandine, Executive Director of Communication, Brand and Engagement said: “At Orange, we support major sporting events in the countries where we operate by placing the focus of our strategy on the fans: we offer them the means to enjoy their passion. “Orange sponsors change” adds another brick to this promise: combining passion for football and commitment to the environment. It is a great action that will leave a positive legacy”.
Alioune Ndiaye, CEO of Orange Africa and the Middle East, explains: “Africans are very passionate about football. Orange Sponsors Change helps raise awareness among young people about environmental issues through football; this is a great proof of the Orange Group’s commitment to society and the planet.”
Source: Orange
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Clarion gaming
‘The voice of Spain’s gaming community will be at the very heart of ICE Barcelona 2026’ states Clarion Gaming’s Ewa Bakun

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ICE Barcelona has demonstrated its commitment to the Spanish industry following a highly successful engagement program at the Expo Congreso de Juego Luis Escribano in Torremolinos.
Recognised for being one of the most established and respected gatherings in the Spanish gaming calendar, the event provided a powerful platform for the ICE team to connect with industry leaders, regional representatives, and national stakeholders, as momentum builds towards the second edition of ICE Barcelona taking place January 2026.
The ICE Barcelona delegation engaged with more than a dozen of Spain’s most influential trade associations, including Asociación de Operadores de Juego de la Comunidad de Madrid, Asociación de Operadores de Asturias, Asaebin Andalucía, Ageo Galicia, Andemar Comunidad Valenciana, Anesar, Aemexa Extremadura, Club de Convergentes, CEJUEGO, Femara and Aspromares to share the exciting development plans for January’s event.
Reviewing the programme of meetings Ewa Bakun, Director of Industry Insight and Engagement at Clarion Gaming said: “Our aim in Torremolinos was clear: to listen, to connect, and to demonstrate our commitment to the Spanish industry. The conversations that we had were without exception forward-looking and constructive focussing on how we can work hand in hand with associations to shape and deliver a Spain-focused agenda at ICE 2026.”
She added: “Topics ranged from regional market opportunities to association-led content creation, as well as new ways to maximise knowledge sharing, showcase innovation, and elevate Spain’s presence on the global gaming stage.”
“A central pillar of our discussions was the La Plaza —a dedicated hub on the ICE show floor. More than simply a meeting point, La Plaza will host an industry-led programme co-curated with the Spanish associations, featuring bespoke content sessions, networking events, and collaborative initiatives that put the voice of Spain’s gaming community at the very heart of ICE Barcelona.
“We warmly invite all associations, including those we could not meet in person at the Expo Congreso, to join us on the journey to Barcelona and play a central role in shaping ICE 2026. The response from delegates to both the debut of ICE Barcelona in 2025 and the 2026 roadmap was overwhelmingly positive.
“Attendees expressed strong enthusiasm for the opportunity to showcase Spain’s strength and dynamism on a global stage, while also embracing the chance to contribute to the broader strategic conversations impacting the future of the industry.”
The post ‘The voice of Spain’s gaming community will be at the very heart of ICE Barcelona 2026’ states Clarion Gaming’s Ewa Bakun appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Former Playtech Director of Internal Audit & Risk Joins eGaming Integrity

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eGaming Integrity is delighted to announce the appointment of Robert Penfold as Head of Internal Audit, further strengthening the firm’s ability to support Isle of Man licence holders in responding to increasing regulatory scrutiny and upholding the island’s reputation for integrity.
Robert brings with him more than two decades of high-level experience in governance, risk, audit, and compliance across global gaming and financial services organisations. Most notably, Robert spent over eight years as Director of Internal Audit & Risk at Playtech plc, the world’s largest online gaming software and services supplier listed on the London Stock Exchange. In this role, he was a member of Playtech’s Audit, Risk and Governance Committees, overseeing global audit programmes and supporting the business in meeting complex regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
Robert has also held senior positions at bwin.party digital entertainment plc, where he led global risk management across regulated markets including Spain, Denmark, Italy, Belgium, France, and Gibraltar. More recently, he was engaged as Governance, Risk & Compliance Manager at the Isle of Man Government’s Attorney General Chambers, where he implemented new risk frameworks and data governance processes across multiple divisions.
Emma Shilling, Director at eGaming Integrity, commented: “This is a landmark appointment for us. Robert’s depth of experience, particularly his years at the helm of audit and risk at Playtech, represents a real step change for eGaming Integrity and our clients. His appointment evidences our commitment to providing heavyweight, board-level expertise to Isle of Man licence holders at a time when regulatory scrutiny has never been higher.”
Robert Penfold added: “I’m thrilled to be joining eGaming Integrity at such a pivotal time for the sector. I’ve spent much of my career working to ensure organisations not only meet regulatory requirements but build strong, resilient frameworks that protect their businesses and customers. I look forward to working with Emma and the team to help our clients strengthen their compliance and governance cultures.”
Robert’s appointment adds further depth to eGaming Integrity’s team of industry experts and former regulators, reinforcing its position as the Isle of Man’s leading provider of mock audits, remediation, and internal audit services for the island’s eGaming licence holders.
The post Former Playtech Director of Internal Audit & Risk Joins eGaming Integrity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Anastasia Rimskaya Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix
Aviatrix live with Wildz following Wildz Group integration

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Innovative crash game Aviatrix has integrated with leading operator Wildz Group, in a partnership that sees it launch with flagship casino Wildz and a selection of other, high-performing brands.
The launch is made possible via a Relax Gaming integration, giving Wildz Group players access to Aviatrix’s award-winning gameplay. In addition to Wildz, the title is now available at Spinz, Caxino, Tuplaus, Chipz and Wheelz.
Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “Wildz Group has built an outstanding reputation for delivering player-first entertainment, and we’re delighted that Aviatrix is joining that journey. We’re certain Aviatrix’s unique take on the crash genre will engage the full Wildz Group network, and we’d like to thank Relax Gaming for a swift and seamless integration.”
Jani Koskinen, Chief Marketing Officer at Wildz Group, said: “We’re always looking to add content that brings something new to our players, and Aviatrix fits the bill perfectly. Its blend of innovation and engagement is a great match for our casinos, and we’re excited to roll it out across our portfolio following a successful launch at Wildz.”
Since its debut a little over two years ago, Aviatrix has rapidly grown in popularity, thanks to a relentless focus on innovation and a commitment to keeping gameplay exciting for an expanding global audience.
The post Aviatrix live with Wildz following Wildz Group integration appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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