In the ever-evolving landscape of Nigerian Esports, gaming communities and content creators have become the backbone of engagement. From thriving Facebook groups to rising social media influencers, the ecosystem is buzzing with activity that fuels competitive gaming and entertainment. As Esports gains mainstream recognition, the role of communities and creators in shaping the industry cannot be overlooked.

In this article, we analyze the data from the Nexal Gaming Q4 & 2024 Data Report to explore the growth of gaming communities, the dominance of TikTok creators, and how content is influencing the Esports Industry in Nigeria.

The Growth of Gaming Communities

Facebook Group Trends

Gaming communities have become the lifeblood of Nigeria’s esports ecosystem, serving as hubs for discussions, tournament coordination, and player recruitment. The growth of these communities has been particularly evident on Facebook, where groups dedicated to various esports titles have witnessed substantial increases in membership and engagement. The Nexal Gaming Q4 2024 Data Report provides key insights into how these communities are expanding and shaping the industry.

Key Facebook Group Growth Metrics

According to the report, several of Nigeria’s largest gaming communities experienced significant growth in 2024, reinforcing the crucial role of digital communities in fostering esports engagement.

• CODM Nigeria:
  With a remarkable +28.13% growth, CODM Nigeria remains the gaming group with the highest player base in the country, reaching 103,400 members by the end of Q4 2024. This surge reflects the sustained popularity of Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) in Nigeria, as seen in the Nexal Gaming Q4 2024 Data Report, where CODM recorded some of the highest tournament participation numbers. The game’s strong community engagement is fueled by regular tournaments, content creators, clan wars, and a dedicated competitive scene.
  
  Key Factors Driving Growth:
  
  • Increased participation in CODM tournaments and community-hosted events.
    
  • The success of regional leagues, which encouraged casual players to transition into competitive gaming.
    
  • Content creators and esports organizations actively engaging with the community, hosting giveaways, and sharing gameplay strategies.
    
• Mobile Legends Nigeria:
  While its growth percentage was moderate at +5.88%, Mobile Legends Nigeria has gained increasing traction, showcasing a growing player base. The Nexal Q4 report highlights that Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) tournaments gained more visibility in 2024, contributing to increased engagement within its community.
  
  What’s Driving MLBB’s Growth?
  
  • Expansion of local Mobile Legends tournaments, with more teams competing for cash prizes.
    
  • Cross-platform influence from other MOBA games, introducing new players to the ecosystem.
    
  • The game’s accessibility on mobile devices, making it easy for casual gamers to join competitive play.
    
• EAFC Communities – Uniting Console and Mobile Players:
  EAFC continues to have a massive following in Nigeria, with its communities growing consistently. Unlike FPS or MOBA games, EAFC has a unique demographic split between console and mobile players, creating diverse engagement within Facebook groups.
  
  Key Community Trends:
  
  • Increased player discussions on tactics and squad-building strategies.
    
    
  • The emergence of online tournaments hosted directly within these groups, helping casual gamers transition into organized competition.
    
  • Content creators and influencers using EAFC gameplay to engage audiences, driving more discussions and player participation.

This expansion of Facebook groups signifies the increasing role of community-driven gaming, where players actively shape the competitive landscape through self-organized events, knowledge-sharing, and digital interactions.

How Communities Fuel Esports Growth

The rapid expansion of gaming communities isn’t just about casual discussions; it has a direct and profound impact on Nigeria’s esports ecosystem. These communities serve as talent incubators, nurturing amateur players, facilitating networking, and even helping esports organizations scout emerging stars. Here’s how they contribute:

1. Tournament Organization:

Many of Nigeria’s grassroots competitions originate from these online groups, allowing players to showcase their skills before entering major leagues.

• Example: Many CODM Nigeria tournaments, such as the Clan Wars and the Call of Duty Mobile League (CDML), started as community-driven events before evolving into structured competitions.
  
• Impact: These grassroots tournaments give amateur players a platform to showcase their skills, often leading to recruitment by esports teams.

2. Networking Opportunities:

The esports industry thrives on connections, and gaming communities provide an invaluable networking space. Within these groups:

• Players connect with team managers and coaches, leading to recruitment into competitive squads.
  
• Esports organizations identify promising talents based on discussions and shared gameplay highlights.
  
• Casual gamers transition into competitive play through networking, mentorship, and exposure to structured tournaments.

For instance, CODM Nigeria’s Facebook group is known for helping players get noticed by pro teams through their gameplay clips and tournament performances.

3. Player Development:

Community groups are educational hubs for gamers looking to improve their gameplay.

• Veteran players share insights on meta shifts, tactics, and skill improvements.
  
• Beginners can seek advice on character builds, team compositions, and in-game mechanics.
  
• Discussions around game patches, updates, and strategies allow the community to adapt quickly to changes in the competitive environment.

An excellent example of this is the Call of Duty Mobile Nigeria Facebook group, where players regularly share formations, skill move tutorials, and career mode tips. These interactions accelerate skill development, making casual players more competitive in online and LAN tournaments.

The Importance of Content Creation in Nigerian Esports

Content creation has become an essential pillar of the esports ecosystem, transforming how gaming is consumed, shared, and monetized in Nigeria. Beyond professional tournaments, esports thrives on digital platforms where players, influencers, and brands interact with gaming audiences. Short-form videos, live streams, and gaming commentary now play a crucial role in shaping community engagement, and nowhere is this more evident than on TikTok.

TikTok’s Dominance in Gaming Content

With the growing accessibility of mobile internet and smartphones, TikTok has emerged as the dominant platform for gaming content in Nigeria. Unlike long-form platforms like YouTube and Twitch, TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes short, engaging videos, making it easier for gaming clips to go viral. As a result, the platform has become a hotspot for gaming creators looking to showcase skills, tutorials, memes, and esports highlights.

According to the Nexal Gaming Q4 2024 Data Report, TikTok’s gaming content landscape witnessed substantial growth, with key influencers making significant gains:

• Odunwire saw a +20.2% growth, cementing his status as one of Nigeria’s top gaming influencers. His content focuses on skillful gameplay, reaction videos, and community engagement, making him a household name in the gaming space.
  
• DMS_exe experienced a +5.3% increase in followers, solidifying his role in the esports content space, particularly among FPS enthusiasts. His content frequently highlights intense Call of Duty Mobile gameplay and competitive breakdowns.
  
• Samkid_ffx, a rapidly rising Free Fire content creator, saw an astronomical +121.2% growth, underscoring the demand for highly engaging mobile gaming content. His videos, often a mix of high-kill gameplay and entertaining commentary, have resonated strongly with Nigeria’s fast-growing Free Fire community.

This trend indicates that mobile-focused content is driving the gaming conversation in Nigeria, and TikTok has become the primary stage where esports enthusiasts interact, learn, and showcase their skills.

The Most Engaging Content Niches

While a variety of gaming genres contribute to the esports scene, the Nexal Gaming Q4 2024 Data Report highlights three key categories that dominate engagement:

• Free Fire Gameplay & Tutorials:
  Free Fire continues to be one of the most watched mobile esports titles in Nigeria. Content centered around gameplay highlights, tutorials, and advanced strategies attracts high engagement. Samkid_ffx’s meteoric rise demonstrates how Free Fire creators are leveraging TikTok to build massive followings. Players seek fast-paced action, survival tips, and meta strategies, making Free Fire content a top performer on social media.
  
• EAFC Highlights & Competitive Breakdowns:
  Football remains deeply embedded in Nigerian culture, and EAFC (formerly FIFA) has solidified its place as the most popular football simulation game. Content creators focusing on EAFC, particularly those who break down competitive tactics, goal highlights, and esports tournaments, see strong engagement. With more players and teams participating in EAFC esports tournaments, creators are capitalizing on this interest by providing analysis and entertainment.
  
• PUBG Mobile & Call of Duty Mobile Streaming:
  Battle royale and first-person shooter (FPS) games continue to captivate Nigerian gamers. PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile streams, particularly those that showcase clutch plays, tournament action, and in-game challenges, have become increasingly popular. DMS_exe and Odunwire’s growth in the FPS content niche signals a steady demand for high-quality shooter gameplay.

Why Content Creation is Key to Esports Growth

• Influencing Game Popularity: A game’s visibility and player base often correlate with how much content is being produced around it. Creators serve as unofficial ambassadors, drawing new players into different esports titles.
  
• Building an Esports Audience: A strong content ecosystem fuels esports fandom by keeping audiences engaged even outside tournaments. Regular gaming content creates hype for competitions, teams, and individual players.
  
• Monetization & Career Paths: Nigerian gaming creators are beginning to tap into brand sponsorships, ad revenue, and platform monetization tools. With increased investment, esports content creation could become a viable full-time career for many.

The Connection Between Communities and Esports Growth

Esports does not exist in isolation; it thrives within the gaming communities that fuel competition, engagement, and content creation. Nigerian gaming groups and content creators form the backbone of esports development, bridging the gap between casual players and professional gaming. The synergy between these communities and esports organizers is what sustains the industry’s momentum.

How Community Engagement Translates to Esports Development

Gaming communities and content creators play a pivotal role in expanding Nigeria’s esports ecosystem, serving as hubs for talent discovery, event promotion, and industry growth. Some of their most significant contributions include:

1. Discovering New Talent

• Online gaming communities act as talent pools where players hone their skills through friendly matches, scrims, and informal competitions.
  
• Many top esports athletes in Nigeria started their journeys in Facebook groups, Discord servers, and clan-based communities before gaining recognition in national and international tournaments.
  
• These communities also facilitate peer mentorship, where experienced players provide guidance to upcoming talent, improving the overall skill level of the scene.

2. Sponsorship and Brand Collaborations

• Content creators with large followings attract sponsorships from gaming brands, telecom companies, and hardware manufacturers looking to tap into Nigeria’s fast-growing gaming market.
  
• These partnerships bring financial investment into esports, allowing for better tournament funding, higher prize pools, and improved infrastructure.

3. Event Promotion and Community-Driven Tournaments

• Nigerian tournament organizers rely heavily on gaming groups and influencers to promote competitions, ensuring maximum participation.
  
• Platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Discord serve as centralized hubs for tournament announcements, team recruitment, and match discussions.
  
• Grassroots events often originate within these communities, with local gamers pooling resources to create structured competitions.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the rapid growth of Nigeria’s esports and gaming communities, several structural challenges remain:

Key Challenges

• Monetization Issues
  • Many community managers and content creators struggle to generate sustainable income from their efforts.
    
  • Unlike Western markets where streamers earn from Twitch subs, YouTube ads, and donations, Nigerian creators face limited monetization options due to low CPM rates and payment restrictions.
    
  • Some influencers rely solely on brand sponsorships, which are inconsistent and difficult to secure.
    
• Lack of Structural Support
  • Unlike the United States and Europe, where game publishers and esports organizations actively support community growth, Nigerian esports lacks direct backing from major gaming corporations.
    
  • Without official league structures, many players struggle to transition from amateur to professional competition.
    
  • Limited investment in gaming infrastructure, such as esports arenas and training facilities, slows down industry growth.
    
• Cybersecurity and Moderation Challenges
  • As gaming communities grow, issues such as spam, cyberbullying, account scams, and misinformation have increased.
    
  • Moderation tools on platforms like Facebook and Discord are often insufficient, making it difficult to maintain safe and inclusive spaces for gamers.
    
  • Data privacy concerns also arise, with some groups facing bot attacks and fake accounts attempting to exploit users.

Opportunities for Future Growth

Despite these challenges, the Nigerian esports industry has significant opportunities for expansion:

• Brand Partnerships and Corporate Investment
  
  • More companies are beginning to recognize gaming as a key youth market, opening doors for esports sponsorships.
    
  • Telecom providers, banks, and energy drink brands have started investing in esports-related initiatives, signaling long-term business interest.
    
  • Influencers who can build strong engagement metrics stand a better chance of securing lucrative deals.
    
• Local Tournaments and Structured Esports Leagues
  
  • The rise of local tournaments and leagues, such as the Mobile Legends Nigeria League (MLNL) provide competitive players with structured opportunities to showcase their skills on a national level.
    
  • With proper funding and support, grassroots competitions can evolve into professional-tier leagues, much like what has happened in countries like Brazil and India.
    
• Cross-Platform Growth for Content Creators
  
  • While TikTok dominates gaming content in Nigeria, expanding into YouTube and Twitch could provide long-term monetization opportunities.
    
  • YouTube’s revenue-sharing model allows creators to earn from ads, memberships, and sponsorships.
    
  • Twitch’s interactive live streaming format could help Nigerian esports personalities establish deeper audience connections.

Conclusion

As Esports continues to push boundaries in Nigeria, gaming communities and content creators will remain at the heart of its expansion. The growth of online gaming groups, the dominance of TikTok in gaming content, and the rise of new gaming influencers all contribute to an ecosystem that fuels competition, entertainment, and career opportunities.

With structured leagues gaining traction and brand sponsorships increasing, the future of Nigerian esports looks promising. However, challenges such as monetization hurdles, lack of corporate backing, and cybersecurity concerns must be addressed to ensure long-term sustainability.

For a deeper dive into the numbers and emerging trends, explore the Nexal Gaming Q4 & 2024 Data Report, which provides comprehensive insights into Nigeria’s esports landscape, content creation growth, and the evolving role of gaming communities.

Last Updated on February 24, 2025