Two Goliath Gaming captains are taking South African esports onto the international stage. Zaid April will join Kaylan Moodley at the Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh, while Jabhi “JabhiM” Mabuza is heading to Evo France in Nice.
Goliath Gaming has announced two major international qualifications for its captains, giving Mzansi two more global esports journeys to follow in 2026.
April has qualified to represent South Africa in the EA SPORTS FC competition at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup. He joins fellow South African competitor Kaylan Moodley, who received a direct invitation through the official EA FC Pro World Rankings.
Mabuza, meanwhile, has secured his place at Evo France 2026, where he will compete in Street Fighter against players from the international fighting game community.
Zaid April joins Kaylan Moodley in South Africa’s ENC lineup
April’s qualification means South Africa will have two representatives in the EA SPORTS FC field in Riyadh.
Misa Esports player Kaylan Moodley secured the country’s first place through a direct invitation. The Esports Foundation awarded 64 direct invitations through the official EA FC Pro World Rankings, with only the highest-ranked eligible player from each country or territory able to claim one of those places. The official invitation list named Kaylan as South Africa’s representative.
April has now earned South Africa’s second place through the qualification route. Together, he and Kaylan complete the maximum two-player contingent permitted from a single country at the ENC Finals.
That detail makes April’s result even more significant. He did not replace South Africa’s invited player. He expanded the country’s representation and ensured that two of Mzansi’s leading EA SPORTS FC competitors will have a chance to make their mark in Riyadh.
For April, the achievement adds another international chapter to a career built through strong domestic and continental performances. The Cape Town competitor has become a familiar figure at the sharp end of South African EA SPORTS FC competition, including victories in the Kaizer Chiefs Virtual Chief Challenge and VS Gaming events.
What awaits Zaid and Kaylan in Riyadh
The EA SPORTS FC tournament at the Esports Nations Cup is scheduled for 17 to 22 November 2026.
A total of 128 players will enter the competition. The opening stage features 16 round-robin groups of eight players, followed by a 64-player single-elimination bracket. Every competitor will play under the flag of their country or territory rather than only representing a club organisation.
For South Africa, having two players in the field provides both depth and a compelling local storyline. April and Kaylan have spent years competing against the same domestic field. In Riyadh, their shared mission will be to take South African EA SPORTS FC as far as possible on the international stage.
JabhiM is heading to Evo France
Jabhi “JabhiM” Mabuza will travel to Nice for Evo France 2026, which takes place from 9 to 11 October 2026.
The Goliath Gaming captain is one of the most accomplished competitors in South Africa’s fighting game community. His journey began in local Street Fighter tournaments before carrying him to international competition, including multiple Capcom Cup appearances, most recently in Japan.
His place at Evo France continues that rise and gives South African fighting game supporters another player to rally behind on the global stage.
Evo is built around open competition. Established champions, emerging contenders and community players enter the same tournament structure, creating the possibility of unexpected runs and career-defining sets. That open format is part of what makes Mabuza’s qualification so exciting for the local scene.
He will arrive in Nice carrying more than his own ambitions. Every match will also be another opportunity to show the quality, character and competitive depth of South Africa’s fighting game community.
Two games, one South African mission
April and Mabuza compete in different esports disciplines, but their qualifications tell a shared story.
Both players built their reputations by showing up consistently in South Africa’s competitive gaming ecosystem. Both progressed from local tournaments to international opportunities. Both will now represent South African esports in Goliath Gaming colours on major stages abroad.
Their success also demonstrates the value of organisations investing across different competitive communities. EA SPORTS FC and Street Fighter have distinct cultures, but both demand preparation, composure, adaptation and the ability to perform when one match can change everything.
First comes Nice for JabhiM in October. Then April joins Kaylan in Riyadh in November.
Event details
Nice · France
Jabhi “JabhiM” Mabuza
Street Fighter
Evo France 2026
9 to 11 October 2026
Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
Zaid April + Kaylan Moodley
EA SPORTS FC
Esports Nations Cup 2026
17 to 22 November 2026