Foster made the remarks in an exclusive interview with IGIHE on the sidelines of the SportsBiz Africa Forum in Kigali, where he discussed the growth of esports across Africa and the steps Rwanda needs to take to establish itself in the sector.
He pointed to Rwanda’s connectivity, fibre infrastructure, power supply and internet capacity as a strong foundation for the development of esports.
“The key thing is that Rwanda has the physical infrastructure to support esports,” Foster said.
He added that the next step would be strengthening the organisation of the sport in the country, including establishing an esports federation under the relevant national sports structures.
Rwanda is not currently a member of the Global Esports Federation, a gap Foster said needs to be addressed if the country is to participate more fully in the international esports ecosystem.
“Rwanda has to become a member of Global Esports Federation. It currently isn’t. So that’s a very important first step,” he noted.
Foster said Rwanda would first need to establish a national esports federation before joining the global body, adding that the African Esports Federation was ready to help the country accelerate the process.
“We’re having a meeting later today, actually, on exactly that topic. So we hope that it can accelerate. We’re ready for that,” he revealed.
Africa’s esports opportunity
Foster described Africa as one of the most promising regions for esports, noting that the African Esports Federation already has about 35 countries within its membership, with more countries considering joining.
“The development in the last two or three years in Africa has been significant. So I think the time for Africa is right now,” he noted.
He argued that esports has an advantage because it can be adapted to different markets, cultures and languages across the continent.
“Whether it’s in a smaller country or a larger country, in the islands, the north, the south, the centre, east or west, you can have e-sports,” Foster explained.
The growth is being driven by a large and digitally connected young population, which Foster believes is well positioned to participate in the industry’s expansion.
“Young people are digital natives. They’re born digital, so they’re ready to go, and I think the world will be waiting for them,” he added.
Rwanda’s esports scene takes shape
Rwanda has already begun building a competitive esports scene, with local tournaments providing a pathway for players to compete at continental level.
Last month, Praise Steven Nyamwasa won the national EA SPORTS FC 26 championship at BK Arena, defeating Sami Muhamedssin Mohamednour Atta 4-2 in the final to claim the Rwf1 million top prize.
Nyamwasa, Atta, Tresor Irasubiza and Franklin Gacinya qualified to represent Rwanda at the second edition of the SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup, which will bring together 32 players from eight African countries in Kigali on September 12-13.
The continental tournament will feature players from Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Madagascar, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt and Morocco, competing for a $10,000 prize pool.
Nyamwasa, who finished fourth when he represented Rwanda alone at last year’s tournament, said having four players this time gives the country a stronger presence.
“Last time I went alone, now I’m going with four companions, and I believe they’re going to do better,” he said.
The competition also highlights some of the gaps Foster identified. Nyamwasa has called for more investment and regular competitions, noting that he had taken part in only three tournaments over the past year, compared with countries where players can compete almost every month.
From gaming to an investment opportunity
Foster also pushed back against the perception that esports is simply young people playing games for entertainment.
He argued that gaming has become a social and cultural ecosystem in which players build communities and interact across borders.
“It’s much more than that,” he said, noting that technological advances have enabled gamers to connect with friends and communities around the world.
That growing community, he suggested, represents an opportunity for companies and investors seeking to engage younger consumers, particularly Generation Z.
Foster said the global gaming ecosystem already involves around four billion players, while the Global Esports Federation has 180 federations.
He expects the sector to attract more capital as esports matures.
“The industry of eSports is known to be $600 billion by 2030,” he said.
He added that the pace of technological change means esports is developing rapidly and requires organisations and investors to continually adapt.
“It’s still young. And the developments are fast, maybe faster than any other sport,” Foster added.
A pathway for young gamers
Foster believes Rwanda’s young gamers can move from casual participation to elite competition if they are given opportunities to train, compete and gain international exposure.
He pointed to national, regional, continental and global competitions as potential pathways for young players to develop their skills and build careers in esports.
“They’ll focus on it, they’ll get better at it, they’ll practice more, they’ll become elite,” he stressed.
SportsBiz Africa project lead Bridget Mutoni has in the past also highlighted opportunities beyond competitive gaming, including event organisation, commentary, refereeing, game development and education.
Foster said esports can create opportunities for a broad range of participants, regardless of gender, age or disability.
“Everyone can choose their game,” he said. “And the most important thing is to have fun.”
The SportsBiz Africa Forum brought together policymakers, investors, sports administrators, entrepreneurs and athletes in Kigali to explore opportunities for expanding Africa’s sports economy, including through technology and digital entertainment.
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