According to Spotify listening data from 1 June through 21 June 2026, football podcast streams increased significantly across several sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) markets in June compared with the January–May average. The growth spans Southern, East, West, and Central Africa, with eSwatini, Angola, Madagascar, Mozambique, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Namibia, Rwanda, Cameroon, and South Africa among the markets seeing notable gains.
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 1 June through 21 June 2026, comparing average daily football-related podcast streams from 1–20 June against the January–May average.
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