Spotify listening data shows football podcast consumption is accelerating across Sub-Saharan <a href="https://absafricatv.com/urbanization-in-sub-saharan-africa/” title=”Urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa”>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 21, 2026, comparing average daily football-related podcast streams from June 1–20 against the January–May average
