By Francis Kargbo – Media Relations Intern
Africell Sierra Leone has successfully concluded its National Esports Gaming Competition, with Mike Dudley Johnson emerging as the overall champion.
The national final, held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the AYV Complex, brought together some of Sierra Leone’s most talented young gamers following a series of regional qualifiers across the country.
Johnson, representing the Northern Region, clinched the national title after defeating Samuel Jobe of Freetown West in the final. Jobe finished as the first runner-up, while James Sawyer, representing the South-East Region, secured third place.
The top three finalists received cash prizes and earned the opportunity to travel to Angola to represent Sierra Leone. The national champion received NLe20,000, while the first and second runners-up received NLe10,000 and NLe5,000, respectively.
The competition featured qualifiers in the Northern, South-East and Western regions, giving young gamers from different parts of Sierra Leone the opportunity to showcase their skills. Three players from each region progressed to the national stage to compete for the championship.
The competition was supervised by the Sierra Leone Esports Federation, providing an organised platform for young gamers and helping to promote esports as an emerging area of youth talent, entertainment and innovation in Sierra Leone.
The grand final also highlighted the growing participation of young women in esports. Agnes Zainab Seray Wurrie made history as the only female competitor at the national finals. She delivered a strong performance and progressed to the semi-finals before her journey came to an end.
Her participation demonstrated the growing presence of female gamers in a field traditionally dominated by men.
The event attracted players, supporters and spectators, creating an exciting atmosphere throughout the competition. Spectators also participated by predicting the winner of the final between Johnson and Jobe, with those who correctly predicted the outcome receiving 2GB of free Africell data.
The final lived up to expectations, with both players displaying impressive skills. However, Johnson maintained his composure to emerge victorious and claim the national crown.
For Africell Sierra Leone, the successful competition reflects its continued commitment to creating platforms that engage young people through technology, entertainment and innovation.
With Johnson, Jobe and Sawyer now preparing to represent Sierra Leone in Angola, attention will turn to how the country’s young gaming talents perform on the international stage.
