sports
More than 150 million people will watch tonight’s Champions League final. It’s PSG v Arsenal – and most of Africa
Many teams have fans abroad, but the bond between the north London club and ordinary Africans is on a different level. A continent expects
TL;DR
- Arsenal's Premier League title win has led to immense celebrations across African cities like Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Kampala, and Lagos.
- Millions of Kenyans participated in street celebrations, some even visiting the grave of a noted Arsenal supporter.
- The spread of Premier League broadcasting in the 1990s, particularly via SuperSport, made matches accessible across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Arsène Wenger's management of Arsenal saw a significant increase in African players joining the club, fostering a strong connection with the continent.
- Arsenal became a symbol of African football's rise, cosmopolitanism, and anti-racism, resonating with supporters in Africa.
- Football celebrations provide a form of political and collective release in countries with challenging political systems.
- The internet and social media, especially platforms like Arsenal Fan TV, have further amplified Arsenal's cultural significance in Africa.