There are few continents that are as passionate about their sport than Africa. Fans of different sports are often knowledgeable on the latest action taking place in their favored sports throughout the year, with many often watching the latest action live throughout the week. But, what are some of the most popular sports on the continent that have remained extremely popular with sports bettors at paridirect.com?
Football
There is little doubt that the most popular sport in the region remains football. Players from a young age aspire to reach the top of the sport, and that has remained possible with regional competitions around the continent. Players that aren’t fortunate enough to earn moves to Europe are also able to represent their national side at tournaments such as the African Nations Championship.
However, the most popular sports to watch in the country remain the illustrious European leagues in the forms of the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A. African nations have been progressing excellently on the international stage for many years now, and they finally managed to achieve a run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup, as Morocco defied expectations to reach the final four.
For many, it remains only a matter of time before an African nation finally wins the World Cup, and fans will be hopeful of seeing that historic success in their lifetime.
Basketball
Another of the most popular sports in Africa is basketball. The sport was introduced to fans in the country in the 1960s, and professional teams were formed shortly after. At the opening stage, a total of 12 African countries opted to join FIBA and compete in national events on the calendar, and that grew quickly to a level where every nation in the continent were represented.
The sport’s popularity continued in the early 2010s, as the NBA began developing a regional league for African players. The Basketball Africa League has been a huge success since being formed four years ago, with US Monastir winning their maiden title at the end of last season.
There have been a number of huge influences on the sport in Africa, including Hakeem Olajuwon, who was born in Nigeria, before later going on to play in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, winning two NBA titles. The African influence on the league is present today, with Joel Embiid remaining one of the stars in the NBA.
Athletics
Athletics is a sport that is always closely connected with Africa, given the amount of success that African athletes enjoy at the Olympic Games every four years. Given the financial situations of many families on the continent, it is often used as a way to stay healthy by many, but there have been so many stars born after turning professional.
The African Championships are staged every four years, and are typically a starting point for stars that will be challenging for Olympic medals at the summer event. At the championships, there are medals up for grabs across a huge range of events, including 100m, 200m, and 5000m. Kenyan athletes are typically the most successful at the end, with stars from the region winning a total of 23 medals at the 2022 edition of the event.
Tennis
Tennis remains one of the most followed sports in Africa, with passionate fans tuning in to watch the latest action on a weekly basis. However, it remains the four Grand Slam events that are the most watched throughout the season, and Africa could soon yet have another star leading the continent. Ons Jabeur is a player that looks on the verge of making history, as she is one of the most successful female African players in history.
She nearly landed a first Grand Slam title on two occasions in 2022, but she was beaten in the final at Wimbledon, before once again falling short at the U.S. Open just a few months later. The most successful African player in history remains Johan Kriek, who won 14 career titles throughout his career. That included two victories at the Australian Open, and semi-final appearances at both the French Open and US Open.
African Sport Future
The future of sport in Africa remains incredibly bright, as there are a growing number of stars emerging across the continent. Sport in the country remains a common way to connect different cultures and communities, and the long-standing success that this has achieved ensures that the brightest sports stars from the continent will continue to flourish on the grandest stages over the coming years.
