Africell Sierra Leone successfully concluded its National Esports Gaming Competition on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the AYV Complex, where Mike Dudley Johnson emerged as the overall national champion.
The competition brought together some of Sierra Leone’s most talented young gamers following a series of regional qualifiers held across the country. Players representing the Northern, South-East and Western regions competed for the national crown, cash prizes and the opportunity to represent Sierra Leone internationally.
Mike Dudley Johnson, representing the Northern Region, secured the championship after defeating Samuel Jobe of Freetown West in a closely contested final. Samuel Jobe finished as the national first runner-up, while South-East regional champion James Sawyer claimed third place as the national second runner-up.
The three leading finalists received cash prizes, with Mike Dudley Johnson taking home NLe20,000, Samuel Jobe receiving NLe10,000 and James Sawyer earning NLe5,000. They also secured the opportunity to travel to Angola to represent Sierra Leone in an international esports competition.
The journey to the national final involved qualifying competitions in the Northern, South-East and Western regions, allowing young gamers from different parts of the country to demonstrate their abilities. Three players from each region advanced to the grand final, where they competed for national honours.
The Sierra Leone Esports Federation supervised the competition, ensuring that the matches were conducted within an organized and competitive framework. The tournament also provided a platform for promoting esports as an emerging field of youth talent, technology and entertainment in Sierra Leone.
A major highlight of the national final was the participation of Agnes Zainab Seray Wurrie, the only female player to qualify for the decisive stage of the competition. Zainab Seray Wurrie delivered a determined performance against her male counterparts and advanced to the semi-final before being eliminated.
Her achievement demonstrated the growing participation of young women in competitive gaming and showed that female players are increasingly establishing themselves in a field traditionally dominated by men.
The grand final generated excitement among players, supporters and spectators at the AYV Complex. Members of the audience were invited to predict the winner of the decisive contest between Johnson and Jobe, with those who made correct predictions receiving 2GB of free Africell data.
Both finalists delivered strong performances, but Johnson maintained his composure and displayed the skill needed to secure the national title.
Africell Sierra Leone said the successful competition reflected its commitment to creating platforms that engage young people through technology, entertainment and innovation. Beyond rewarding the winners, the tournament introduced competitive gaming to a wider national audience and provided emerging players with an opportunity to showcase their talents.
With Johnson, Jobe and Sawyer now preparing to represent Sierra Leone in Angola, attention will turn to their performance on the international stage as the country seeks to establish a stronger presence in competitive esports.
