Four continental squads. Six matches. One afternoon in Nairobi where African innovators and global delegates settle it on the pitch — and on the pad.
Arena One, Valley Arcade — Nairobi. Gates open 9:00 am.
Open to ABF 2026 delegates. Registering your interest takes about two minutes.
Football as a networking protocol.
The introductions that matter rarely happen across a conference table. They happen after a match.
Four squads drawn from every corner of the continent, plus everyone who flew in to be here.
African grassroots football placed inside a global innovation ecosystem, on equal footing.
Teammates keep in touch. That is the entire point.
Every delegate who registers is drafted into one of four mixed-nationality squads. You tell us where you’re from and how you play; we build teams that are even — and full of people worth meeting.
Kenya & neighbouring East African delegates
The West African contingent
From the Cape to the Mediterranean
Everyone who flew in for the festival
Captains are named the week before. Squad WhatsApp groups open as soon as the teams are set, so you arrive already knowing six people.
The Unity Games run two brackets side by side. Enter either, or both — you tell us on the form.
Seven a side, round robin, every squad plays three. Chosen over eleven a side and over a knockout for one reason: nobody drives to Nairobi to sit on a bench or go home after twenty minutes.
Same four squads, same Unity Cup, played on a controller between fixtures. If your game is EA FC 26 or eFootball rather than ninety minutes in the sun, this is your bracket.
Still taking shape. Titles, platforms and bracket size are being finalised with the 5Stars team — register your interest and we’ll confirm before the draft closes.
One venue, one morning into early afternoon — ceremony and six matches inside roughly four and a half hours, transitions included.
Doors at 9:00. Music, jersey distribution, meet and greet, team photos, icebreakers. 20 minutes.
Short words from ABF, 5Stars Football, Ricky Weir and sponsors. 10 minutes.
Six matches, one networking break, one cup. Wraps around 1:45 pm.
| Kick off | Fixture |
|---|---|
| East Africa XIvsWest Africa XI | |
| Global Select XIvsSouthern & North Africa XI | |
| East Africa XIvsGlobal Select XI | |
| Networking break | |
| West Africa XIvsSouthern & North Africa XI | |
| East Africa XIvsSouthern & North Africa XI | |
| West Africa XIvsGlobal Select XI |
Round robin, not knockout. Every squad plays three matches. Times are provisional and will be confirmed with the final festival programme.
Founders network, creators shoot, investors mingle, players swap contacts, media get their interviews. The football is the excuse.
Every squad gets a business lead alongside its football captain — someone whose job is introductions, not tactics.
Scan a teammate’s badge, connect on LinkedIn before you have caught your breath.
Delegates vote digitally through the day. Bragging rights are decided by the room.
Reels, interviews and the founders-who-play-football series, shot across the whole afternoon.
Kept deliberately symbolic and deliberately premium. Not every award is for the best footballer.
The squad that tops the round robin.
Voted by delegates, across both arenas.
The player who left with the most worth having.
For the squad that made it a good afternoon.
For work that reaches past the pitch.
For the partnership that started here.
Two minutes. Nothing to pay here — this tells us you want a place and helps us build even squads. We come back to you with your team, your captain and what happens next.
Takes two minutes. You will get an email confirming we have it.
Positions, levels and nationalities balanced across the four teams. Captains named the week before.
A WhatsApp group with your teammates and captain, so match day is not the first time you meet.
Jerseys on arrival, six matches, one cup, and a lot of introductions in between.
One thing worth knowing. The Unity Games run inside the Africa Blockchain Festival, so squad places are confirmed alongside your festival pass. If you do not have one yet, say so on the form and we will send you the options — no need to sort it before you enter the draft.
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