The impact of esports on youth in Morocco and Tunisia

Enter any gaming café in Sfax or take a glance inside a dorm room in Rabat, and you will find the same thing: headphones on, screens on, and eyes glued to the game. Esports is no longer a fad, but a way of life for thousands of youth in Morocco and Tunisia. It is the way they socialize, the way they play the game, and sometimes the way they think big. The after-school goofing around has become local tournaments, Twitch channels, and even the mention of full-time careers. To most people, these virtual fields provide what the real world does not always offer: a sense of purpose, collaboration, and an actual chance of being rewarded.

Access to Technology and Internet Growth

A few years ago, stable internet felt like a luxury across much of North Africa. That’s no longer the case. With affordable smartphones, faster Wi-Fi, and widespread 4G, even teens in towns like Kairouan and Tataouine are diving into online gaming. Many start by trying popular apps— تحميل melbet is one of the names that pops up often, especially among beginners looking for a smooth entry point. Access is easier, and the virtual world feels closer than ever.

Cafés where people used to play cards are now the place of weekly online tournaments. Children broadcast on Twitch in their rooms. And games such as Valorant, PUBG Mobile, and League of Legends have as many fans as football clubs. Such games are now more than leisure activities: they are online playgrounds in which young people develop skills, communities, and even income.

Role of Schools and Local Initiatives

The gaming hype has entered the schools and youth centres. Slowly, teachers, NGOs, and local leaders are seeing that esports is not screen time. It is a place to educate, mentor, and even inspire.

This is what is catching up:

• School leagues: Students can create teams and participate in competitions with other schools in brackets.
• Game design courses: The teens are taught how to make their games, including code and character designs.
• Locally organized competitions: Tournaments are organized in cities such as Nabeul and Fez, with sponsors, prizes, and crowds in attendance.
• Youth media projects: Gamers get the skills of streaming, video editing, and creating an online brand, which have real-life applications.

These little steps are transforming the way young people learn, associate, and envision their future.

How Esports Shapes Youth Behaviour and Aspirations

In Morocco and Tunisia, esports has transformed the image of ambition according to thousands of teenagers without anyone noticing. Winning a game is not the only thing; it is about proving yourself in real time, under pressure, with an audience. Children who used to sit and watch are now captains, timekeepers, and even online coaches. The games are competitive, of course, but what they create is an attitude: concentration, perseverance, and quick thinking.

The thing is that many people take it seriously. They practice, study strategies, and watch their performance. It is discipline in disguise. Some parents are just catching on that their children are more confident, more organized, and more driven, not despite games, but because of games.

Digital Skills and Teamwork

There is a moment in a hard game when a player must decide: rush or wait, trust or back off. That snap decision, discussed with colleagues over a headset, is not just instinct. It is communication, strategy, and leadership. In team-based matches, such as League of Legends or Valorant, young people are taught to listen, react, and become responsible quickly.

That collaboration transfers to offline life in such cities as Sousse and Rabat. Teens create their clubs, become mentors to each other, and even to younger children on how to improve themselves. Others would learn to edit videos, be responsible for Discord servers, or lead training sessions. They are getting the same soft skills that recruiters adore: teamwork, project management, and handling emotions when under pressure, without even knowing it. Esports are the place where shy kids get their voice heard and where loud kids get to know when they need to shut up.

Career Paths and Streaming Culture

Esports are making late-night gaming a real future. It is no longer a waste of time to many North African teens; it is the beginning of something greater. This is how it is manifesting itself:

• Streaming to an audience: A lot of creating personal brands on Twitch or TikTok, finding sponsors, and building an audience.
• Esports commentary: Live streams and commentary are hosted by bilingual youth who make fluency their advantage.
• Video editing jobs: Players also put together highlight reels, earning a fee and getting practical experience in the media.
• Hosting tournaments: Youth hold LAN tournaments on weekends, where they learn logistics, marketing, and event organisation.

What this culture provides to the youths is difficult to come by, and that is an opportunity to create a platform. Five people or five thousand, they are building content, community, and careers on their terms.

Economic Opportunities in the Esports Scene

In Morocco and Tunisia, esports is the first way to make money on something that one likes without any doubts for many young people. Winning matches is not the only thing; there are coaches, video editors, and even mini-tournament hosts. And although it is still small-scale, it is opening up actual doors. It is no longer a hobby; it is a side gig or even a dream job to some.

Opportunity Type	Example/Platform	Details
Streaming & Donations	Twitch, Facebook Gaming	Live gameplay with fan tips and subscriptions
Local Tourneys & Events	Game cafés in Rabat and Sfax	Weekend competitions with small prize pools
Freelance Game Services	Fiverr, Discord groups	Logo design, overlays, highlight edits for players/teams
Online Coaching	Private Discord or Telegram sessions	One-on-one game strategy lessons or team training

It’s early, but it’s growing. Even without big sponsors, young players are building something that feels real and theirs.

Mental Health and Screen Time Challenges

It is enjoyable to play games. However, an excess of it, without the equilibrium, can tire you out. In Tunisia and Morocco, plenty of teens spend hours in front of the screen, even late at night. It makes some of them relaxed, and some say it makes them tired. The off switch is not always easy to locate, particularly when all your friends are online.

Parents and teachers are beginning to be concerned, yet the majority of them do not realize how far-reaching the digital world can be. Not many schools discuss the concept of screen time or the emotional exhaustion of being under pressure online all the time. Some teenagers have even begun to take breaks themselves, to delete apps, set alarms, just to feel better. It is not a problem of gaming, but the absence of discussion. That silence must be broken.

What Comes Next for Youth and Esports

Talent is everywhere in gaming, yet real backing still feels thin. Build a better internet, map out more weekend tourneys, and let seasoned players guide the younger crowd, and pro play can graduate from hobby to full-time job. Kids aren't just blowing off steam; they're grinding, climbing leaderboards, and planning careers well beyond the next match. Even on budget laptops, some of them pull in hundreds of live viewers on Discord or drop viral clips that rack up thousands of hearts on TikTok. This year alone, neighborhood organizers in Tunisia have launched over sixty fresh amateur squads through grassroots leagues. North African gamers are about to flip the script and set trends for the scene, provided their hometowns give them the lift they deserve.