African Five-a-side

Maher Mezahi hosts African Five-a-side, a podcast that uses football as a starting point for much wider conversations. While the beautiful game is the common thread, episodes regularly venture into the intersections of sport with culture, history, and current affairs across the continent. You’ll hear from players, journalists, scholars, and fans, with discussions that might begin with a match or a tournament but often explore the social and political currents shaping those events. This isn’t just a sports analysis show; it’s a nuanced audio journey that reveals how deeply football is woven into the fabric of African life. The podcast is backed by Africa Is a Country and supported by the Open Society Foundation, ensuring a platform for thoughtful, on-the-ground perspectives. Tuning in means getting a richer understanding of the continent’s dynamism, all through the shared language of the world’s most popular sport. Each episode feels like a candid, insightful chat, offering listeners a unique vantage point they won’t find in standard match reports or headlines.