General

Biggest Sports In Africa (All Metrics)

The biggest sports in Africa can be measured by two major metrics; the rate of acceptance, and then the amount of money in each sport. Both metrics are very much intertwined; the most popular sports in Africa are usually the same as the richest sports in Africa.

Sports is business; and in order to maintain professionalism, there has to be adequate funding so as to pay the sportsmen and women so that they can be motivated to perform optimally.

In much of Africa there is still a lot of work to be done; but the organizational efficiency has certainly increased, and so there is a lot of potential in sports, but particularly in these sports highlighted below.

Biggest Sports In Africa

Football

Popularity: Very High

Facilities: Abundant All Over

Football is the most popular sport on the continent of Africa by far. Almost every country has an Association Football League, and the continental competitions are passionately contested. Some of the important football competitions on the continent include Africa Cup of Nations AFCON, which has been played since 1957.

CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup are the club versions of the continental championships; they are contested by clubs from all over the continent, who have topped their national leagues in the past season.

Almost every stadium in Africa is designed for football games; the people gather to watch these games and to catch glimpses of their favorite stars.

 In Africa, the major football leagues include those of Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, South Africa, Algeria, and Ghana.

Athletics

Popularity: Very High

Facilities: Abundant All Over

Athletics is very popular in Africa; almost every school holds athletic competitions, and in the more developed countries on the continent, regional and national championships are held.

The continent holds regular Athletics Championships, and The African Championships in Athletics. The competition has been held since 1979. The continent seems to have divided the athletics events among its countries: Kenya and Ethiopia are dominant on the world stage when it comes to long distance running.

The Facilities for Athletics are abundant all over the continent; there is hardly a stadium in Africa that does not have an athletics track around it.

Basketball

Popularity: High

Facilities: Quite Abundant

Basketball is also popular throughout the continent; it is one of the biggest sports in Africa because of the intensity with which the continental championships are contested. Basketball is especially popular in Nigeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Angola; all of which have leagues.

There is a lot of interest in Basketball, but the most popular players in this sport have built their careers outside the continent; particularly in the NBA, and other such leagues in places like Europe.

Facilities for Basketball are quite reduced in abundance; while football and athletics may be played on open fields with grass or sand; Basketball usually requires more input into the design and construction of the courts.

Many countries have indoor sports complexes, and even schools have basketball courts. However, few neighborhoods have the facilities for this game- a thing which affects the development of the sport at the grassroots level.  

Cricket

Popularity: High

Facilities: Quite Abundant

Cricket is played in Africa, but there are some who have no idea what the sport is all about. Cricket has its origins in Britain, and it remains a popular sport over there. Cricket’s popularity in Africa seems to be restricted to the former British colonies on the continent.

Cricket is an important sport, especially in Southern Africa. South Africa has won the International Cricket Championship a few times, while the game is played with some fervor in places like Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana also have great love for the game, while other countries that play cricket in Africa include Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Cameroon, and many others.

One factor which boosts the popularity of Cricket in Africa is the fact that it only requires a field. Grass is preferred, but it can also be played on sand.

Boxing

Popularity: High

Facilities: Abundant

The most famous boxing event to have ever been held in Africa happened on October 30, 1974, when Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fought for a heavyweight title in Zaire. That fight was tagged Rumble in the Jungle. Since then, however, Africa has produced several champions of its own.

Hogan Bassey, Samuel Peter, and Anthony Joshua are names that will never be effaced from boxing history- and they are all African names. Boxing in Africa can be broken into two: Traditional Boxing, and Conventional Boxing.

Traditional Boxing is part of Africa’s cultural renaissance; in many countries it is starting to get more attention. Boxing events are held, and big prizes are given to winners.

Conventional boxing championships are held in almost every country on the continent; local champions are given the opportunity to contest for the chance to represent the country at the African Games.

As for those that turn professional and fight in the biggest arenas of the world; they usually have to leave the continent. The whole world is on the look-out for African boxing talent; potential greats usually get spotted.

Other Combat Sports

Other Combat Sports are quite popular in Africa; but not at the grassroots level. In most countries in Africa there are usually state championships for sports such as Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, and Mixed Martial Arts- which has become quite popular in South Africa.

Aside from promoted events; these sports are not readily available on the streets.

Rugby

Rugby is more popular in Southern Africa. In South Africa it is very well organized and funded; the results are several World Champion trophies in Rugby. Aside from South Africa, the sport is also very popular in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Other countries where the sport is popular include Morocco, and Ivory Coast.

The level of development of Rugby in South Africa is outstanding; it is part of the sport activities of several schools, and there are championships held between schools where big prizes are awarded. The game continues into university level, and on the professional level, the Rugby Union in South Africa is well funded; and well organized.

The South African Rugby Team “The Springboks” competes in intercontinental championships, and the team is well decorated with trophies. Rugby is part of the Afrikaner movement in South Africa.

Golf

Popularity: Minimal

Facilities: Available

Golf is becoming increasingly popular; championships are held in almost every country on the continent, and there is a continental championship; the Africa Open.

However, Golf is seen as a rich man’s game in Africa. There are many beautiful golf courses in Africa; such as the Palm Golf Marrakech in Morocco, The East London Golf Course in South Africa, and The Cascades at Soma Bay, Hurghada, Egypt.

Access to these golf courses is usually beyond the means of ordinary Africans; they usually serve purposes related to tourism.

Many championships have been started in many locations, but they often fail because of the challenge of finding sponsorship. Sponsors are hard to find because they are usually not interested in investing in a sport that is not popular with the ordinary people to who they wish to sell their products.

In the past; Rich men played golf, and then they relaxed to exotic drinks, upon which they discuss politics. However, Golf is starting to generate interest; especially in Southern Africa.    

Closing

It seems that there is a relationship between the biggest sports in Africa and the richest countries in Africa. This may be because wealthier countries have more resources to invest in sports.

All over the continent there is a complete love for football; in the north and east the pendulum swings towards long distance racing- a part of athletics; in west Africa, boxing is becoming more popular in the grassroots; while southern Africa has rugby and golf.

Further Reading: The Richest Footballers In Africa

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