The 10 most-followed African sportspeople on social media

From Mohamed Salah to Sofyan Amrabat by way of Francis Ngannou, here is the Top 10 of the most-followed African sportspeople on social media, who spark a tidal wave of reaction every time they post on their various channels.

10- Victor Osimhen (7M)

Victor Osimhen sits in tenth place in this ranking. The Nigerian centre-forward has been playing at a very high level since leaving LOSC and has since become a superstar in Africa after winning at the CAF Awards 2023. With 17 goals and 5 assists in 23 games for Galatasaray this season, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations runner-up has a community of 7 million followers online. 5.7 million of them are on Instagram and the other 1.3 million on X.

9- Francis Ngannou (10.8M)

From immigrant in France to UFC heavyweight world champion in 2021 and PFL Super Fights champion in 2024, Francis Ngannou's (17-3-0) journey inspires millions of young Africans. The resilience of "The Predator", coupled with his attachment to his Cameroonian roots despite holding dual nationality (France), makes him one of the most popular fighters on the continent. Ngannou has an audience of 10.8 million on social media, including 7.1M on Instagram, 2.5M on Facebook and 1.2M on X.

8- Brahim Diaz (13M)

A top-class impact substitute at Real Madrid, Brahim Diaz is already a much-respected Atlas Lion in Morocco, which he chose to represent internationally only a year ago. Always committed to the team cause, the 25-year-old right winger is as well liked by his team-mates as by the fans who follow him in huge numbers on social media. Brahim Diaz has 13 million followers across three platforms, including 9.3M on Instagram, 2.9M on Facebook and 831k on X.

7- Israel Adesanya (13.8M)

Israel Adesanya (24-5-0) is the most-followed African sportsman outside football on social media. A former world champion at -84kg, "The Last Stylebender" has kept his community engaged thanks largely to his past successes, despite some disappointing recent outings, including a fresh defeat in early February against Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia. "Izzy" has 13.8 million followers, including 8.7M on Instagram, 3.3M on Facebook and 1.8M on X.

Read also: Israel Adesanya talks about a rematch with Imavov

6- Hakim Ziyech (16.3M)

In sixth place in this ranking we find Hakim Ziyech (13 games, one assist). An exceptionally talented footballer, the Moroccan attacker's physical fragility has unfortunately hampered his consistency since leaving Ajax Amsterdam. Even so, he remains one of the African sportspeople most liked by web users, with 16.3 million followers, including 11 million on Instagram and 5.3M on Facebook.

5- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (23M)

Having played for Saint-Etienne, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Barça, Chelsea and then OM before leaving Europe for Al-Qadsiah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (12 goals and 2 assists in 20 games) has built a strong community on social media. The Gabonese has the advantage of never having let fans down wherever he has been, apart from Chelsea, where the departure of Thomas Tuchel, who had pushed for his arrival, and then the arrival of new owners with a new project, did not make success easy. In all, the Panther has 23 million followers, including 13.8M on Instagram, 2.2M on X and 7M on Facebook.

4- Riyad Mahrez (26.6M)

Like Sadio Mané, Riyad Mahrez (9 goals and 12 assists in 27 games this season) has not lost his popularity with web users despite his gilded "exile" in Saudi Arabia. The 2019 African champion has 26.6 million followers across three social networks. He is followed most on Instagram with 12.4 million followers, then comes Facebook, where he has 12.1 million fans, and X, where the former Manchester City left winger has 4.1 million followers.

3- Achraf Hakimi (27.9M)

A right-back with a golden career path (Real Madrid, Dortmund, Inter Milan and then PSG), Achraf Hakimi (3 goals and 9 assists in 28 games this season) enjoys immense popularity in the football world. The Moroccan, a bronze medallist at the 2024 Olympics with the Olympic Atlas Lions, is 3rd in this Top 10 of the most-followed African sportspeople on social media. The Paris player has 27.9 million followers, including 20.2 million on Instagram, 1.8 million on X and 5.9 million on Facebook.

2- Sadio Mané (33.8M)

Leaving Europe has not dented Sadio Mané's standing, at least not with his fans. The Al-Nassr star (7 goals and 9 assists in 30 games this season) and two-time African Ballon d'Or winner is the second most-followed African sportsman on social media, with 33.8 million followers, including 16.4 million on Instagram and 17.4 million on Facebook.

1- Mohamed Salah (100.7M)

He is probably the most consistent African footballer of the last ten years. Mohamed Salah, on the scoresheet again on Wednesday night in the Merseyside derby against Everton (2-2), has seen his popularity soar this season thanks to his stratospheric performances (27 goals and 19 assists in 35 games). He is the most-followed African sportsman on social media with 100.7 million followers across Instagram (64.2M), Facebook (17.3M) and X (formerly Twitter) (19.2M). The Pharaoh is the overwhelming favourite for the 2025 Ballon d'Or right now.