Shirley Ndirangu in action/ HANDOUT
Martin Kibiwot and Shirley Ndirangu will represent Kenya at the 2026 Global Esports Games (GEG) in Los Angeles after winning the men’s Open and women’s eFootball categories, respectively, during the national qualifiers held in Nairobi.
Kibiwot secured his place after defeating Harry Thuku 2-1 in a closely contested final at the Homeboyz Institute on July 18, while Ndirangu beat Shantel Wanjiru 2-0 in the women’s decider.
Their victories marked another milestone for Kenya’s growing esports scene, with the qualifiers attracting 64 players in the Open category and 32 in the women’s competition.
The event formed part of Kenya’s selection process for the Global Esports Games, which will be held in Los Angeles, USA, from December 3 to 10.
Kibiwot’s qualification comes as Kenya’s eFootball profile continues to rise internationally. Earlier this year, the national eFootball team qualified for the FIFAe Continental Championship after finishing among the top eight teams in the Africa regional FIFAe Nations League campaign.
Represented by Daniel Kibiwott and Elvis Kibet in the eFootball Console 2v2 category, Kenya defeated Libya 2-0 in the knockout stage before losing to Ghana, having already secured qualification for the continental finals.
The achievement further highlighted Kenya’s steady progress in competitive football gaming, with the country also among the more than 110 FIFA member associations participating in the expanded 2026 FIFAe ecosystem.
Reflecting on his victory, Kibiwot said the win was a reward for persistence.
“Winning this tournament means everything to me. The competition was extremely tough, and facing Harry in the final pushed me to my limits. I’m honoured to represent Kenya in Los Angeles, and I’ll work even harder over the coming months to ensure I make the country proud,” he said.
Ndirangu said she hopes her success will inspire more women to embrace competitive gaming.
“I’m incredibly happy to have earned the opportunity to represent Kenya. The level of competition among the women continues to improve, and this victory motivates me to prepare even harder for Los Angeles,” she said.
The Global Esports Games, organised by the Global Esports Federation, brings together national teams from around the world to compete across multiple gaming disciplines, with athletes from more than 100 countries expected to participate.
