We all knew that eSports was gaining a lot of ground, but what wasn't immediately clear just how global this concept was getting. A new report out of Africa revealed that it was making moves in Nigeria, as some new effort was bringing eSports into the region with the newly-minted African Gaming League.

Launched by Amaete Umanah and a slate of co-founders, the African Gaming League will launch via a set of four cities throughout Nigeria, in which the league's first tournament will take place. Though there are a host of gamers on the continent, Umanah notes, such gamers have been somewhat ignored by the gaming companies. Thus the African Gaming League rose up to do the job itself.

With eSports poised to take in around $493 million by the end of this year, there's plenty of reason to step into the market. Given that that $493 million represents a 51.7 percent jump over last year's figures, and even beats out a previous projection made only 10 months or so ago, the end result suggests there's a lot more room in this market than even the experts might have thought.

What's more, the African Gaming League won't be alone; South African firm Kwese Sports teamed up with ESL in a bid to take on the African eSports market. Though more firms are taking an interest in this market, there's a key problem; the market is still weak overall, sufficiently so that even a pair of startups may have trouble finding investors in the face of such a field. Given that the average per capita income is around $3,000 a year, it's clear why such a field could be lightly trafficked by investors.

Still, that same weakness is also a strength: this is a market with minimal competition. First-mover advantage here could mean an entire market to entrench within, and that means a very big slice of the pie, even if that pie is more the size of a quiche.

It could be a very big opportunity ahead for eSports in Africa, and with two competitors going in, the end result could be more impressive than anyone figured.