Kennedy Kapembwa has taken the first major step towards the Red Bull Wings Cup National Final after emerging victorious from a 256-player field at Comic Con Africa in Johannesburg.
The competitive EA SPORTS FC™ 27 tournament formed part of Red Bull’s new Wings Cup initiative, which is creating a pathway for players from console, university and online competition towards a potential place on the global stage.
Kapembwa’s victory on Saturday puts him closer to the South African National Final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on 1 November, where 16 players will compete for the country’s place at the expected World Final in Miami in January 2027.
256 Players, One Winner
The Comic Con Africa activation gave players an early opportunity to get their hands on EA SPORTS FC™ 27 and test their skills in a competitive environment.
With 255 opponents standing between Kapembwa and the top spot, the Johannesburg tournament demanded more than simply knowing how to play the game. Players had to manage pressure, adapt to opponents and deliver when the margins became increasingly small.
Kapembwa ultimately came through the field and secured the win.
“Today was fantastic, man. I played well throughout the whole day,” .
Kapembwa said after the tournament
He also highlighted the challenge posed by Zaid, adding that he felt his performance across the day justified the victory.
The win now gives Kapembwa an important opportunity to continue his competitive run as the Wings Cup moves into its official competition window.
A New FC 27 Battlefield
The Red Bull Wings Cup competition officially runs from 29 September to 1 November 2026, with players able to pursue qualification through multiple routes.
The Open League provides an online pathway through PlayStation Tournaments and FACEIT, while the University League brings competition directly onto campuses. These routes feed into the South African National Final, alongside qualifying opportunities such as the Comic Con Africa activation.
For players who have spent years grinding EA SPORTS FC, that pathway could be significant.
Awande “Wasabi” Khoza, who was involved at the Comic Con Africa activation, described the appeal of the competition as the opportunity to take something players already love and connect it to a much bigger international stage.
The Wings Cup is being staged across 80 countries, with national champions set to compete for an opportunity to reach the World Final in Miami, where the competition is expected to combine EA SPORTS FC gameplay with real-world football challenges.
From the Public to the Competitive Stage
One of the strongest themes emerging from the Comic Con Africa event was accessibility.
Collins “Skarra” Manyame, who was involved as a caster, pointed to the open nature of the competition as one of its defining features.
Rather than relying exclusively on established esports names, the format gives members of the public an opportunity to test themselves against players they might otherwise never encounter in a competitive setting.
“This is where you start,” .
Skarra explained when discussing the pathway for aspiring professional players
That opportunity matters in a South African gaming scene where players can often have the skill but lack the competitive platforms, exposure and experience needed to take the next step.
The Comic Con activation put that theory into practice, bringing established competitive players, aspiring professionals and casual gamers into the same environment.
The FC 27 Learning Curve
The tournament also arrived at an interesting point for EA SPORTS FC 27, with players still adapting to the latest iteration of the franchise.
Professional FC player Hamza Moosa of Goliath Gaming discussed the changes he had experienced in the new game, particularly around defending.
For competitive players, those gameplay changes can quickly alter how matches are approached. Familiar habits from previous editions may no longer produce the same results, forcing players to rethink defensive positioning, attacking patterns and decision-making.
That learning curve adds another layer to the Wings Cup, where players are not simply competing for bragging rights but trying to figure out the fastest way to adapt to a new competitive environment.
The Road to Loftus and Miami
Kapembwa’s Comic Con Africa victory is only the beginning.
The wider Red Bull Wings Cup competition continues until 1 November, when 16 players will meet at Loftus Versfeld Stadium for the South African National Final.
From there, the national champion will have the opportunity to represent South Africa on the global stage at the expected World Final in Miami in January 2027.
For Kapembwa, the immediate challenge is to carry the confidence from Johannesburg into the next stage.
For everyone else watching the South African competition, the message is equally clear: the route to the international stage is now open, and the next player to emerge could come from almost anywhere.
