Z Esports clinch Phygital Rivals Kenya title to punch ticket for Kazakhstan

Z Esports produced a disciplined performance to clinch the Phygital Rivals Kenya title after defeating defending champions Issa Team with a 4–1 aggregate score in Sunday’s final.

They took command early, winning the digital stage 3–1 before sealing the job with a narrow 1–0 victory in the physical contest.

Their march to the crown was anything but straightforward. After a mixed bag of results in the group phase, squeezing past Pineapple FC 6–5, stumbling 3–8 against Watch and Learn FC, then roaring back with an emphatic 11–4 win over Ni Sisi FC, they switched into knockout mode when it mattered most.

 Z Esports stunned Cloud 9 with a 14–2 quarterfinal victory before returning the favour against Watch & Learn FC, edging them 7–5 in the semis to avenge their earlier loss.

 Issa Team, who had arrived in the final carrying an unbeaten record after dispatching Santiago (7–5), Madjogo (13–3), and Nakuru FC (7–2), looked primed to defend their crown. A 5–4 win over Santiago in the semifinals appeared to underline their readiness but Z Esports tore up the script.

 Z Esports pocketed Ksh 70,000, while runners-up Issa Team took home Ksh 30,000. Captain Emmanuel Atak said the victory was years in the making, noting:

 “I’m very happy for this win, and we hope to give a good show when we represent Kenya in Kazakhstan.”

 Esports Kenya Federation President Ronny Lusigi applauded the quality of play throughout the weekend, describing the tournament as further proof of the country’s growing footprint in the emerging hybrid discipline.

 “The professionalism and discipline shown by all the teams demonstrate just how fast the phygital discipline is growing in Kenya,” he said.

“This tournament proves that Kenya is ready to compete globally.”

 Phygital football blends esports with real-world football, combining a 2v2 digital showdown with a 5v5 physical match. The 16-team Kenyan tournament served as the official national qualifier for the 2026 Games of the Future in Kazakhstan, organized under the World Phygital Community.