OM continues to rival PSG in the hearts of Africans

Olympique de Marseille's (OM) qualification for the next Champions League should delight many African viewers. The Marseille club has enjoyed high popularity in French-speaking Africa for decades, whether in the Maghreb or in countries like Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, and Mali.

The figures provided by the Professional Football League (LFP) for the 2024-2025 season are explicit. OM's Ligue 1 matches attracted a cumulative audience of 18 million viewers in five French-speaking African countries (Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal), out of a total of 122 million worldwide. Those of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 22 million, up 12%. "Marseille's popularity in sub-Saharan Africa is at its highest, as it is the fourth most popular European club, ahead of Manchester City and Chelsea," the body assures. The top three, according to it, are Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and PSG.

Of course, the capital club, which won the last Champions League and is piling up titles at the national level, is seeing its popularity explode in Africa thanks to its results. "But the phenomenon is more recent. Historically, OM is a club that has always had many supporters on this continent," says former Senegalese international Sarr Boubacar, who has the distinction of having worn the jersey of both teams (OM from 1975 to 1979, PSG from 1979 to 1983, then OM again from 1983 to 1985).

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