In 2010, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup, in what was seen as a groundbreaking moment not just for the country itself, but for the whole continent. Africa had not hosted a FIFA World Cup for 101 years until 2010. The marquee footballing event not only put Africa on the football map, but it also served as a beacon for other sports to start venturing to the continent and as a trigger for an explosion of sporting talent to emerge out of it.
The mainstream sports have always held a firm place in African hearts and the continent was done proud at the recent Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where Morocco, Nigeria and Zambia flew the African flag. However, some lesser-known sports have steadily increased in popularity over the past decade; namely those of a combative nature.
Boxing is a sport that still counts as mainstream but is nevertheless enjoying a continuous rise in popularity, and it might not be too long until we see a major heavyweight fight in Africa. Depending on which source you believe, the prospect of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury coming to blows is a real possibility. Joshua himself is openly proud of his Nigerian roots and even sports a tattoo outline of the continent of Africa on his right deltoid and a potential return of the prodigal son would have a huge influence on young aspiring boxers in Africa.
One fight that has been seemingly ruled out however, is a bout between Anthony Joshua and MMA superstar Francis Ngannou. The Cameroonian French power puncher recently fought former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and came incredibly close to upsetting the “Gypsy King.” Ngannou only lost on a split decisions call from the judges on his boxing debut, after switching codes from MMA to step into the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Even though a fight against another Brit, Anthony Joshua does not seem likely, Ngannou has proved that it is possible to make the switch across codes and be successful making it. MMA, as a sport, will also enjoy a boost in reputation that might pave the way for fighters like Ghanaian Abdul Razak Alhassan to make an even bigger name for themselves on the global stage. MMA, and UFC should also be mentioned in the same breath, will benefit from an overall popularity boost as a result of Ngannou’s, and previously Conor McGregor’s exploits into the ring. This could have an extremely positive affect on training facilities, viewership, betting on MMA, which also continues to grow with more and more markets opening up for events with the popularity of sports betting on the event only growing. It has all helped with the general following of the sport. The beauty of sports is that there is always space for more, and space to move into neighbouring sporting disciplines. In Africa, there is also plenty of sporting potential to be explored and the opportunity for new stars to rise in rings, octagons, and cages around Africa.