African excellence in esports is no longer confined by geography.
Across global leagues and international competitions, Africans in the diaspora are not just participating — they are performing, leading, and shaping competitive standards. One such athlete is Samuel Adegun, known across the esports world as SamThaRuler.
His journey is not only a personal achievement, but a powerful example of why African narratives in esports must be documented, celebrated, and strategically connected back to the continent.
Samuel Adegun: Flying the Flag on the World Stage
Samuel Adegun is a core member of the Great Britain national eBasketball team, competing in eFIBA — the official international NBA 2K competition organised by FIBA in partnership with British Esports.
eFIBA represents the highest level of national-team competition in NBA 2K, mirroring traditional international basketball structures. To reach this level requires technical mastery, tactical discipline, and sustained performance across multiple seasons — all of which Adegun has demonstrated consistently.
As of January 2026, he remains part of the Team GB roster, competing in major European qualifiers and facing national teams such as Portugal and Turkey in the pursuit of a place at the eFIBA World Finals.
This is not a cameo appearance.
This is sustained elite performance.
A Career Built on Consistency, Not Hype
Adegun’s place in Team GB is the result of years of competitive excellence in the NBA 2K ecosystem.
Key Milestones in His eFIBA Journey
2021 – Early National Selection
Adegun was selected for the Great Britain squad at the FIBA Esports Open III, playing the Center (C) position — a role demanding defensive awareness, rebounding control, and tactical discipline.
2023 – Founding Member of Team GB eFIBA
When FIBA launched the inaugural eFIBA Season 1, Adegun was named as one of the founding players of the newly structured Team GB roster.
2023–2024 – Continued Selection & Elite Preparation
His performances earned him retention into eFIBA Season 2, including participation in specialised national bootcamps at the National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland, where Team GB prepared for European qualifiers.
2026 – Core National Player
Today, Adegun remains a central figure in the UK’s national eBasketball infrastructure, contributing to both competitive results and the sport’s long-term development.
African Heritage, Global Impact
Samuel Adegun is of Nigerian heritage, with the surname Adegun rooted in Yoruba culture, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups.
This matters.
Because African representation in esports is not limited to flags on jerseys. It lives in:
- The stories behind the players
- The pathways they navigate
- The visibility they receive
Diaspora athletes like Adegun prove that African talent is already competing at the highest levels — often within more structured ecosystems abroad.
The opportunity now is to connect these stories back to Africa’s own esports development.
At Esports Africa News, our mission goes beyond reporting tournaments. We are committed to documenting African excellence wherever it exists — on the continent and across the diaspora.
By spotlighting athletes like Samuel “SamThaRuler” Adegun, we:
- Preserve African esports history
- Elevate role models for the next generation
- Connect global success stories back to African ecosystems
Diaspora Africans are not separate from African esports.
They are proof of its potential.
And their stories deserve to be told — properly.