• MINGO has signed a deal with African Boxing to deliver ticketing across 54 countries, becoming the main boxing events platform.

• Counterfeit tickets and resale scandals cost millions; Zambia FAZ lost K2m (~$80k) in one match.

• Africa’s sports industry is expanding at 8% annually, backed by major investments and rising digital adoption.

Digital infrastructure company MINGO has signed an agreement with African Boxing to provide ticketing services across 54 African countries. The deal, announced January 16, positions MINGO as the primary platform for boxing events.

Joe Arthur, CEO of Mingo Technologies Ltd, said: “This is about more than ticketing. It’s about deploying real infrastructure, at scale, in markets where access, fairness, and reliability actually matter. We’re focused on addressing long‑standing issues like fraud and scalping, while giving organisers and fans a system that works quietly in the background and scales globally.”

Counterfeit tickets continue to undermine Africa’s sports industry. Local cases highlight the scale of the problem, such as Zambia’s Football Association losing K2 million (about $80,000) in revenue during a single match, alongside widespread resale scandals during the latest Africa Cup of Nations where tickets were sold illegally at several times their official price.

MINGO’s system is designed to address these challenges by providing secure, transparent ticketing and equipping organizers with tools for revenue tracking and fan data management. This adoption is supported by Africa’s mobile‑first economy, where mobile money penetration exceeds 50% and smartphone use continues to rise. The platform is built to operate across varying connectivity levels, from urban centers with 4G to smaller cities with limited internet access.

The announcement comes as Africa’s sports industry experiences rapid growth. The African Sports and Creative Institute reports the sector is expanding at nearly 8% annually, supported by major investments such as the $284 million Senegal Stadium, the Right to Dream academy in Ghana, and the launch of NBA Africa, valued at $1 billion. Analysts note that sports is becoming a driver of socio‑economic development, contributing to multiple Sustainable Development Goals, while technology, internet access, and smartphone penetration are reshaping fan engagement through sports tech, gaming, e‑sports, and media revenues.

Analysts say secure ticketing could unlock sponsorship and broadcast revenue by providing verified attendance data. The agreement marks a step toward formalizing Africa’s events industry and demonstrates how blockchain technology can be deployed at scale in emerging markets.

Hikmatu Bilali