In modern football, digital presence has become a significant indicator of a club’s popularity and reach.
Social media platforms serve as a barometer for fan engagement, reflecting the global appeal and influence of football clubs.
This report details the social media presence of the 16 teams participating in the 2023-2024 CAF Champions League group stage.
It explores their follower base across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, providing insights into their digital reach and potential for engagement.
Methodology
The methodology employed for this analysis revolves around evaluating the number of followers each club garners across prominent social media platforms.
- We gathered publicly available data on the number of followers each club had on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
- We analyzed each club’s total number of followers across all five platforms.
- We ranked the clubs based on their total follower count.
Key Findings
- Dominance of Al Ahly: Al Ahly leads with a staggering total of 44,542,250 followers. This is nearly four times the followers of Simba SC, the second-ranked club.
- East African Surge: Tanzanian clubs Simba SC and Young Africans are ranked second and third, with 10,219,636 and 5,511,293 followers, respectively.
- North African Stronghold: North African clubs maintain a strong presence, with Wydad AC from Morocco and Pyramids FC from Egypt ranking fourth and fifth. Wydad AC has a total of 4,989,223 followers, and Pyramids FC has 4,609,821 followers.
- Diverse Social Media Platforms: The clubs’ varied strengths across different social media platforms indicate the importance of a diverse digital strategy. For example, Al Ahly’s massive following on Facebook and TikTok, Simba SC’s dominance on Instagram, and Mamelodi Sundowns’ strong presence on X (Twitter).
- Digital Engagement vs. Historical Success: The rankings illustrate that social media popularity is influenced by more than just historical success. Clubs like Simba SC and Young Africans, with 10,219,636 and 5,511,293 followers respectively, have managed to build substantial online followings despite having fewer continental titles than some historically successful North African clubs.
Data Analysis: The table below presents the social media followership data for the football clubs participating in the CAF Champions League Group Stage:
| Team | Country | Facebook Followers | X Followers | YouTube Followers | Instagram Followers | TikTok Followers | Total Followers | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ahly | Egypt | 16,569,010 | 11,582,640 | 1,200,000 | 10,690,600 | 4,500,000 | 44,542,250 | 1 |
| Simba SC | Tanzania | 2,178,000 | 1,575,767 | 503,209 | 5,810,860 | 151,800 | 10,219,636 | 2 |
| Young Africans | Tanzania | 1,467,000 | 305,838 | 503,000 | 3,053,255 | 182,200 | 5,511,293 | 3 |
| Wydad AC | Morocco | 2,443,779 | 510,165 | 175,000 | 1,722,679 | 137,600 | 4,989,223 | 4 |
| Pyramids FC | Egypt | 2,789,890 | 549,104 | 100,000 | 799,027 | 371,800 | 4,609,821 | 5 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | South Africa | 1,465,480 | 1,141,450 | 63,200 | 712,260 | 399,200 | 3,781,590 | 6 |
| Esperance (Tunisia) | Tunisia | 1,539,832 | 2,485 | 233,890 | 186,378 | 59,800 | 2,022,385 | 7 |
| Etoile du Sahel | Tunisia | 1,298,900 | 10,200 | 96,700 | 147,000 | 10,600 | 1,563,400 | 8 |
| TP Mazembe | DR Congo | 784,200 | 243,729 | 32,900 | 91,200 | 0 | 1,152,029 | 9 |
| Atletico Petroleos | Angola | 573,600 | 1,600 | 4,920 | 94,583 | 151,500 | 826,203 | 10 |
| Asec Mimosas | Cote d’Ivoire | 535,053 | 17,166 | 0 | 144,943 | 53,800 | 750,962 | 11 |
| CR Belouizdad | Algeria | 313,300 | 7,742 | 24,100 | 126,155 | 14,700 | 485,997 | 12 |
| Al Hilal | Sudan | 298,430 | 21,400 | 3,345 | 61,309 | 27,500 | 411,984 | 13 |
| FC Nouadhibou | Mauritania | 153,200 | 2,768 | 150 | 3,700 | 37,200 | 197,018 | 14 |
| Medeama | Ghana | 47,600 | 78,670 | 1,900 | 23,500 | 32,800 | 184,470 | 15 |
| Jwaneng Galaxy | Botswana | 98,200 | 842 | 1,510 | 1,228 | 0 | 101,780 | 16 |
Detailed Analysis
Al Ahly (Egypt): Al Ahly emerges as the undisputed leader in digital popularity among the clubs in the CAF Champions League Group Stage. With a massive following across all platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, Al Ahly boasts a total follower count of 44,542,250, securing the top rank.
Simba SC (Tanzania): Simba SC claims the second position with a total follower count of 10,219,636. The club exhibits significant engagement particularly on Facebook and Instagram, reflecting its strong fan base in Tanzania and beyond.
Young Africans (Tanzania): Young Africans, another Tanzanian club, follows closely behind Simba SC, securing the third rank with a total follower count of 5,511,293. While the club’s presence on Twitter and YouTube is relatively modest, it compensates with a substantial following on Facebook and Instagram.
Wydad AC (Morocco): Wydad AC from Morocco ranks fourth in digital popularity with a total follower count of 4,989,223. The club enjoys considerable support on Facebook and Instagram, contributing to its strong online presence.
Pyramids FC (Egypt): Pyramids FC, based in Egypt, secures the fifth position with a total follower count of 4,609,821. The club exhibits a diverse social media following, with substantial engagement on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa): Mamelodi Sundowns, representing South Africa, ranks sixth with a total follower count of 3,781,590. While the club’s presence on Twitter and YouTube is notable, its Facebook and Instagram following also contribute significantly to its digital popularity.
Esperance (Tunisia): Esperance, hailing from Tunisia, secures the seventh rank with a total follower count of 2,022,385. The club demonstrates strong engagement on Facebook and Instagram, reflecting its popularity within Tunisia and the wider region.
Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia): Etoile du Sahel follows closely behind Esperance, claiming the eighth position with a total follower count of 1,563,400. While the club’s overall social media following is lower compared to others, it maintains a dedicated fan base on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
TP Mazembe (DR Congo): TP Mazembe represents the DR Congo and secures the ninth rank with a total follower count of 1,152,029. Despite its comparatively lower following on social media, the club maintains a presence across multiple platforms, contributing to its digital visibility.
Atletico Petroleos (Angola): Atletico Petroleos ranks tenth with a total follower count of 826,203. The club’s engagement on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok reflects its growing popularity within Angola and beyond.
Asec Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire): Asec Mimosas from Cote d’Ivoire secures the eleventh position with a total follower count of 750,962. While the club’s presence on Twitter and YouTube is relatively modest, it demonstrates significant engagement on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
CR Belouizdad (Algeria): CR Belouizdad represents Algeria and secures the twelfth rank with a total follower count of 485,997. The club’s social media following, although lower compared to others, reflects its growing digital presence and engagement.
Al Hilal (Sudan): Al Hilal ranks thirteenth with a total follower count of 411,984. While the club’s presence on Twitter and YouTube is relatively limited, it maintains a modest following on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania): FC Nouadhibou secures the fourteenth position with a total follower count of 197,018. The club’s social media following, although comparatively lower, reflects its efforts to engage with fans through platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Medeama (Ghana): Medeama, representing Ghana, ranks fifteenth with a total follower count of 184,470. The club demonstrates modest engagement on social media platforms, reflecting its growing digital presence within Ghana and neighbouring regions.
Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana): Jwaneng Galaxy from Botswana secures the sixteenth position with a total follower count of 101,780. While the club’s social media following is relatively modest, it signifies its efforts to establish a digital presence and engage with fans online.
Limitations
This analysis is based solely on social media follower count and does not necessarily reflect on-field performance or overall club popularity.
The popularity of different platforms can vary significantly across different regions and demographics, making direct comparisons challenging.
Limited access to detailed demographic data from all platforms restricts a comprehensive understanding of fan bases.
This analysis provides a snapshot in time; social media trends and engagement can change dynamically.