19 May 2021 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced its first-ever international FIFA esports friendly against India this coming Saturday, 22 May 2021.

After a good showing at the FIFA eNations online qualifiers, SAFA has decided to create an international match programme for the national team to improve their competitive muscle with a friendly against the All India Football Federation’s National eFootball Team.


This will be an online event featuring the four most talented FIFA players in the country that won in their respective consoles in the SAFA eCup to represent and lead team South Africa in this series of eFriendlies.

Kaylan Moodley (18) and Julio “Beast” Bianchi (22) will be joined by Thabo “Young Savage” Moloi (20) as a 3rd player and the 2019 team veteran Shiaan Rugbeer (22) will be back as a player-coach.

The match will be live on the #SAFAeDiski YouTube and Twitch channels with the live stream hosted by the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, as the latter launches its esports hub and the inaugural BayFive eCup on Saturday, 22 May 2021.

SAFA CEO, Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe says one of the Association’s objectives is to amplify the popularity and growth of esports in South Africa.

“It is with great excitement that we host our first international friendly in this FIFA gaming platform that gives SAFA an opportunity to cater for youth fans as well as increasing its digital assets with this national team. We hope to grow FIFA esports and create a platform for youth to dream of representing their country in a new format in football,” Motlanthe said.

The team will be playing from home for their camp due to the threat of the Covid19 third wave. FIFA gaming fans wishing to follow the team can find further details on SAFA’s social media channels as well as www.www.safa.net and www.ediski.com

eDiski #FIFAeNationsCup #eSports #FIFA21


Competition contacts: competitions@safa.net


Media contact – media@safa.net


Event Contact – info@ediski.com