Partnership with Portugal’s most successful football club will create new opportunities to introduce sports fans to 888AFRICA and create growth opportunities in Mozambique and Angola

888AFRICA, the leading Africa-focused betting and gaming business part-owned by evoke plc and which operates the 888bets and BetLion brands in Africa, is delighted to announce an agreement with S.L. Benfica,

Portugal’s most successful football club, to become the club’s Official Sports Betting and Gaming Partner for Mozambique and Angola.

As Official Sports Betting and Gaming Partner, 888bets branding will feature at all home matches played at the legendary Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica. In addition, 888AFRICA will also work with Benfica to create unique and engaging content for football fans and launch a series of competitions and giveaways – from signed shirts and footballs to match tickets.

As Benfica competes in the UEFA Champions League and aims to win its 39th Primeira Liga title, the partnership will create additional opportunities for fans to connect with their club and add an extra layer of entertainment to the season.

With a major footprint in Mozambique and Angola – two markets that have a strong cohort of Benfica fans – 888AFRICA’s partnership with Benfica will help raise awareness of its innovative and content rich offer as it looks to expand market share.

Founded in March 2022 as a joint venture with evoke plc, 888AFRICA’s ambition is to expand and be a market leader across selected African regulated online markets. Since its launch, the business has grown rapidly, having] recently hit three million first time depositors in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo through its strong and differentiated brands, 888bets and BetLion.

Christopher Coyne, CEO of 888AFRICA, commented: “Benfica is one of the world’s most prestigious football clubs with a particularly strong following in Portuguese- speaking countries in Africa and is the perfect partner for 888AFRICA.

In Mozambique and Angola – two key markets for us – Benfica is one of the best followed clubs and we are confident this partnership will unlock further growth opportunities for us. We look forward to creating unique and engaging Benfica-led content while introducing more fans in Africa to our market-leading betting and gaming propositions. We look forward to playing our role in supporting what will no doubt be another successful season for the club.”

Miguel Bento, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer of SL Benfica Group, stated: “We are pleased to announce this partnership with 888 Africa, a prominent player in the betting industry across key markets like Mozambique and Angola. These regions represent an important part of our global strategy, as Benfica continues to expand its reach beyond Europe. This collaboration not only strengthens our presence in Africa but also brings us closer to our passionate fanbase there. We believe this partnership will offer exciting new opportunities for engagement in Africa, and we look forward to achieving great things together.”