Spotify data shows football podcast listening surging across Sub-Saharan Africa
Football-related podcast streams are rising across SSA markets, with Eswatini, Angola, Madagascar and Mozambique among the fastest-growing countries.
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.
Table: Spotify's Fastest-Growing Sub-Saharan African Markets for Football Podcast Listening
Rank | Country | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|
1 | Eswatini | 160.2% |
2 | Angola | 144.7% |
3 | Madagascar | 137.2% |
4 | Mozambique READ MORE: Bishop Obinim rejects son's plea to return home amid ongoing marital dispute | 136.0% |
5 | Togo | 121.0% |
6 | Benin | 120.0% |
7 | Cabo Verde | 113.6% |
8 | Côte d’Ivoire | 110.4% |
9 | Namibia | 103.3% |
10 | Rwanda | 98.0% |
11 | Guinea READ MORE: Hilda Baci named Guinness World Records icon after historic cooking achievements | 94.3% |
12 | Mauritius | 88.6% |
13 | Cameroon | 86.8% |
14 | Burundi | 82.9% |
15 | Burkina Faso | 81.3% |
16 | South Africa | 80.3% |
About Spotify
Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators.
Everything we do is driven by our love for music and podcasts. Discover, manage, and share over 100 million tracks, including more than 6 million podcast titles, for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features for music, including improved sound quality and an on-demand, offline, and ad-free music listening experience.
Today, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with a community of 626 million users, including 246 million Spotify Premium subscribers, in over 180 markets.
Source: Spotify
Edem Kwame
Edem Kwame is a journalist at GH News Media covering entertainment and national developments in Ghana.
