European Football Clubs: Local Fan Bases Skyrocket

T he night of Sunday, October 25, 2026, was highly animated in the nation’s capital, Yaounde. It was not because of any national event, but because of a football match: Barcelona versus Real Madrid, the El Clásico, in Spain’s LaLiga. Whe­ never these two teams meet, the excitement transcends borders. Beyond Yaounde, fans in other cities such as Douala, Bafoussam and Ber­ toua are also on their feet, as both clubs possess strong fan bases there. Some fans take the rivalry personal; from predictions and team line-ups to the match itself and the final result. Heated exchanges and even insults may arise, but at the end, both groups of supporters understand that it is all entertainment. This is why an association such as Clasico Real vs Barca exists. It organises matches between supporters of both clubs, followed by what members call the “third half” (troisième mi- temps in French). One may wonder what the “third half” means in a foot­ ball match played in two halves. The Clasico Real-Barca association uses the term to describe the festivities after their gala match: eating, drinking and sharing ideas. This initiative shows that, beyond individual support, fans have created associations across the country to cheer their darling clubs spread across Europe. Still within LaLiga, partnerships are being created to keep the league alive in Cameroon. In 2024, LaLiga signed a strategic partnership with ACTIVA Insurance Group, a pan-African insurer headquartered in Douala, to strengthen community engagement and promote sports development across Africa. PSG–Marseille: Another Bomb Away from Spain, some French clubs also have strong fan bases in Came­ roon. Paris Saint-Germain and Olym­ pique de Marseille appear to command the majority of these supporters, and the two groups rarely agree. The meeting between the two teams is known as Le Classique, France’s big­ gest football rivalry. The excitement in Cameroon is often very high, es­ pecially because well-organised fan bases have been created for this pur­ pose, such as “PSG Cameroun”. Ac­ cording to an influential member of the association, Mathieu Youbi, it has existed for 11 years and has close to 300 members, mainly from Yaounde and Douala. “To become a member, you must have PSG in your mind and in your body,” Mathieu Youbi stresses. Off to England Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, just to mention but these, have built mas­ sive followings throughout Cameroon. Whenever these prestigious clubs meet, their fans are always on their he...