Sports are gaining increasing popularity across Africa, with athletes achieving remarkable success both individually and as part of teams.
At the highest level, athletes are helping their countries gain recognition in various sports.
Mohamed Salah has been one of the best footballers for nearly a decade, playing for one of the biggest clubs in England. Athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya return home with gold medals. Nigerian-born basketball players like Joel Embiid have won the MVP award in the toughest basketball league, the NBA.
Africa is a vast continent, and it is difficult to say that any sport, other than football, has achieved widespread popularity across the entire continent. The popularity of sports changes regionally depending on the area.
In athletics, countries like Kenya and Ethiopia lead both in terms of success and popularity. These nations dominate both men’s and women’s categories, setting records in marathons and the Olympics.
Cricket, on the other hand, is more popular in countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. South Africa’s national team, Proteas, has left a significant mark on the international scene. In basketball, the influence of America has helped the sport gain popularity across the continent. Recently, countries like Senegal, Nigeria, and Angola have been producing strong players.
Rugby is extremely popular in Namibia and South Africa. The players of the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team, are known to anyone interested in the sport.
Football, however, enjoys widespread interest throughout the continent. South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010, and in 2030, it will be Morocco’s turn. Morocco made a huge impression in the last tournament by eliminating Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, and reaching the semifinals.
Nigerian player Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win the Serie A championship, and Ademola Lookman scored three goals to help Atalanta win the Europa League.
Although it’s too early to say, Salah’s performance this season puts him very close to winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or as the world’s best footballer. It’s not just him—countries like Algeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast have also made significant progress both at the club level and with individual players.
African competitions like the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are gaining more popularity each year.