The African Confederation of Digital Sports (ACDS) has been officially elected as the recognized African esports body by the International Esports Federation (IESF). This significant development transpired during the World Esports Championship (WEC) on August 27, 2023, in Iasi, Romania.
The ACDS submitted an application to the IESF to establish itself as the official representative of esports in Africa. This application was not only accepted but also received unanimous support from the board during the WEC’s Unconference.
Beyond gaining official recognition from the IESF, the president of ACDS, Mr. Hicham El Khlifi, who concurrently serves as the president of the Moroccan Esports Federation, was promoted to the position of board member and vice president responsible for representing Africa.
The emergence of the ACDS will officially replace the African Esport Association (AESA), which the IESF announced as its official African body back in 2021.
The ACDS was founded in June 2023 in Casablanca, Morocco, and boasts a membership of 41 countries. These member countries encompass a wide range, including Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.
