Botola Pro arrives on eFootball as Konami targets growing African gaming market

Morocco’s top-flight league has been added to Konami’s eFootball game, giving African football another major presence in one of the world’s most popular football gaming franchises.

The Moroccan League was introduced as part of eFootball’s v6.0.0 major update, with Konami including the competition among the key features in its official update notes.

Although the league has been incorporated into the game, it does not currently carry the official Botola Pro branding.

Instead, Morocco’s first division appears under a generic league identity, similar to other competitions in the game that do not have full licensing agreements. Clubs, players and visual elements have nevertheless received significant updates.

Konami increases focus on African football

The addition is the latest indication of Konami’s growing interest in African football.

Earlier this year, the Japanese gaming company became the Official Gaming Sponsor of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), strengthening its relationship with African football’s governing body.

Bringing Morocco’s domestic competition into eFootball further expands that presence and gives fans across the continent an opportunity to see their local clubs represented in the game.

Morocco’s growing international profile has also increased interest in its domestic football.

The country’s historic run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals helped raise the profile of Moroccan football around the world, while subsequent international success has continued to attract global attention.

A new battle with EA Sports

The move also comes as Konami continues to compete with EA Sports in the football gaming market.

While EA Sports has secured licensing deals with many of Europe’s leading leagues, Konami has increasingly pursued partnerships and competitions in less traditional markets, including Asia, South America and Africa.

The Moroccan league’s arrival could be particularly significant in North Africa and the Middle East, where eFootball Mobile has a substantial following and mobile gaming is a major part of the sports-gaming market.

Moroccan supporters have previously called for their domestic clubs to receive greater representation in football video games. The latest update represents a step towards fulfilling that demand, even though the league is not fully licensed.

More than one billion eFootball downloads

The development adds another African competition to a franchise that has become a major force in sports gaming.

eFootball has recorded more than one billion cumulative downloads across mobile, console and PC platforms, giving the Moroccan league access to a huge international gaming audience.

Konami, founded in 1969, is also behind major gaming franchises including Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Castlevania and Yu-Gi-Oh!.

For Moroccan football, the arrival of the country’s top division in eFootball is another sign of the sport’s growing global reach.

While the league’s current representation falls short of a fully licensed Botola Pro experience, its inclusion nevertheless gives Morocco’s domestic game a new platform to connect with football fans and gamers across Africa and beyond.