Spotify listening data shows football podcast consumption is
accelerating across Sub-Saharan Africa, with several markets posting
strong increases in June compared with the January–May average.
The data points to a broad rise in sports audio engagement across the
region, as fans increasingly turn to podcasts for commentary, match
analysis, player stories, club conversations, and fan-led discussion.
Growth is not limited to one market or sub-region, with gains appearing
across Southern, East, West, and Central Africa.
Among the fastest-growing SSA markets for football-related podcast
listening are Eswatini, up 160.2%; Angola, up 144.7%; Madagascar, up
137.2%; Mozambique, up 136.0%; Togo, up 121.0%; Benin, up 120.0%; Cabo
Verde, up 113.6%; Côte d’Ivoire, up 110.4%; Namibia, up 103.3%;
Rwanda, up 98.0%; Guinea, up 94.3%; Mauritius, up 88.6%; Cameroon, up
86.8%; Burundi, up 82.9%; Burkina Faso, up 81.3%; and South Africa, up
80.3%.
The trend reflects the growing role of podcasts as a companion format
for football fans across the region. Beyond live games and short-form
clips, listeners are engaging with longer-form analysis, creator-led
conversations, and local perspectives that deepen the way they follow
the sport.
The findings are based on Spotify podcast listening data from June 1
through June 20, 2026, comparing average daily football-related podcast
streams from June 1–20 against the January–May average.
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