Figures from African television network GTV suggest that Arsenal is Africa's most popular club. Except in Nigeria and South Africa, which have separate deals, GTV shows 80 per cent of Premiership matches in sub-Saharan Africa with the other 20 per cent given free to state broadcasters. Africans tend to support the Big Four. Manchester United is the leading club in southern Africa, Chelsea is gaining ground in west Africa, while Liverpool is the most Googled team. Why are the English matches more popular than those from Spain and Italy? The pace of the game and the larger input of foreign, especially African, talent probably helps. At least 50 footballers from the continent play in the Premiership. Africa already has the Premiership's largest fan base, outstripping Asia's, though so far Africans have been too poor to affect the league's finances. But this may be changing. Premiership sponsor Barclays is determined to lure new customers across Africa.
Figures from African television network GTV suggest that Arsenal is Africa's most popular club. Except in Nigeria and South Africa, which have separate deals, GTV shows 80 per cent of Premiership matches in sub-Saharan Africa with the other 20 per cent given free to state broadcasters. Africans tend to support the Big Four. Manchester United is the leading club in southern Africa, Chelsea is gaining ground in west Africa, while Liverpool is the most Googled team. Why are the English matches more popular than those from Spain and Italy? The pace of the game and the larger input of foreign, especially African, talent probably helps. At least 50 footballers from the continent play in the Premiership. Africa already has the Premiership's largest fan base, outstripping Asia's, though so far Africans have been too poor to affect the league's finances. But this may be changing. Premiership sponsor Barclays is determined to lure new customers across Africa.