If you were looking for the ultimate esports showdown, the Carry1st Africa Cup Grand Finals delivered just that, with South Africa’s NXG emerging as champions. Ask anyone in attendance (physically and virtually), and they’d tell you it was a battle of wits and wills, with the winning team facing the stiffest of competition before they secured their place in history by defeating Kenya’s Delta eSports 3 to 1.

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Underdog comebacks, unexpected disqualifications, and nine yards in between were all part of African esports at their best, and fans were on the edge of their seats. Here’s how it went down, with notes from Carry1st Senior Community Manager ‘Dom’ Eromosele.

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Recap:

West African Rivalry: Aura233 vs. Sierra 7

The finals started with Ghana’s Aura233 against Nigeria’s Sierra 7. Aura233 dominated in Hardpoint (250-152) with Ruin and Sunflower being flawless. Sierra 7 came back in Search and Destroy with Virus and Tipsy winning 7-3. In the decider, Aura233’s teamwork was too much for Sierra 7 in Control and they won 3-0.

Results:

• Map 1 (Hardpoint): Aura233 250-152 Sierra 7
• Map 2 (Search & Destroy): Sierra 7 7-3 Aura233
• Map 3 (Control): Aura233 3-0 Sierra 7

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Disqualifications & Derailers

Drama unfolded as Morocco’s SUN eSports, the favourites, faced South Africa’s NXG. Despite losing the Hardpoint map, SUN eSports tied the series with a MVP performance by Darroks in Search and Destroy. Just as they were getting momentum, tournament officials found a banned item (Legendary flashbang) in their setup. They were disqualified and NXG went to the semifinals while SUN’s run was ended prematurely.

Final Scores (After DQ):

• NXG (South Africa) vs. SUN eSports (Morocco): NXG wins 2-0.

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Delta eSports: The Underdog Story

Kenya’s Delta eSports defied all expectations in a Cinderella run. After a loss to Sierra 7 in the early stages, Delta stunned Ghana’s Aura233 with a decisive 3-1 victory to reach the semis. Led by captain Michael and standout players Twix and Storm, Delta kept pushing forward, defeating SUN eSports 3-2 in a tense semifinal clash.

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Semifinal Results:

• Delta eSports (Kenya) vs. SUN eSports (Morocco): Delta eSports wins 3-2.
• NXG (South Africa) vs. Sierra 7 (Nigeria): NXG wins 3-0.

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The Grand Finale: NXG vs. Delta

The finals were as dramatic as the journey to get there. NXG’s early Hardpoint victory was nullified after officials found their use of a banned K9 unit, forcing the team to regroup. Despite the setback, NXG proved unstoppable, winning three consecutive maps to secure a 3-1 victory.

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On the scene, Delta eSports’ spirited performance won the fans over but it was NXG’s tactics and resilience that won them the championship. MVP BeanPole led NXG to victory and took home the $5,000 prize. Delta eSports got $3,000 and a promise of better days to come.

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Final Match Result:

• NXG (South Africa) vs. Delta eSports (Kenya): NXG wins 3-1.

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Insights From Dom:

"Delta eSports were the underdogs, yet had a fantastic run– that’s what makes esports so cool. NXG’s consistency and precision won them the title, but every team in this tournament brought something special.”

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“African esports is on the rise and the talent we’re seeing is just the beginning."

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Having seen the best of the best from Africa mete it out on the battlefield, also had some words of wisdom for the aspiring players looking to make their mark in upcoming editions:

• Consistency: “Practice daily—no talent alone will get you there.”
• Teamwork: “The best teams were a united team, not a bunch of individuals.”
• Adaptability: “Learn from every match. (All of) the winning teams adjusted all the time.”

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In A Nutshell

The 2024 Carry1st Africa Cup was a perfect highlight of African esports’ growth, passion of the competitors, and potential. We had underdog comebacks, nail-biting matches, and shocking events to boot– this tournament had it all. You can be sure that when the 2025 Carry1st Africa Cup rolls around, it would be even better.

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