Ahead of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, the Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) announced on January 10, 2024, that it has concluded an extensive global broadcast agreement with broadcasting rights holders from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, North America, and the Caribbean.
Africans and the rest of the world can watch the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) games from 180 countries beginning tomorrow, January 13, 2024, through February 11, 2024.
Usually, AFCON takes place every two years. The 2023 tournament will feature 24 countries competing in 52 matches.
Here are over nine platforms where African and international football fans can watch the games.
1. New World TV
If you’re in Francophone Africa, such as Togo, Cameroon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burundi, and Burkina Faso, you can watch the tournament on New World TV, a Togolese media company.
The company secured media rights for the Confédération Africaine de Football competitions from 2023 to 2025, which include 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
New World TV is still in its infancy and is sub-licensing its broadcasting rights to 45 free-to-air stations and pay-TV platforms.
2. DStv and GOtv
On January 10, 2024, MultiChoice announced that it had secured the right to broadcast the African Cup of Nations a week after announcing that it had lost its broadcasting rights to New World TV.
MultiChoice, which operates DStv and GOtv, will show the tournament through its sports channel, SuperSport. DStv is available in 54 African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa.
Be the smartest in the room
Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.
3. StarTimes
StarTimes, a Chinese media company in over 30 African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Guinea, and Senegal, has also been granted the right to broadcast the tournament.
Meanwhile, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in Nigeria has questioned the legitimacy of StarTimes’ rights due to an alleged violation of the broadcasting code, casting doubt on its telecast. Thus, it is still unclear if Startimes will resolve the issue before kickoff.
However, payTV recently announced an increased subscription fee, effective January 10, 2024.
4. Nigeria Television Authority (NTA)
Afro Sports, an Afrocentric sports media company, and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) announced on Wednesday that they have inked a new memorandum of understanding to broadcast the tournament. The government-owned national media is the largest local TV network in Nigeria.
5. Ghana Television (GTV)
Viewers in Ghana will be able to watch the competition on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation's GTV Sports Plus. While it is Ghana's only TV station with the rights to broadcast the tournament, it will also air on other GBC channels.
6. South African Broadcasting Corporation ( SABC)
The SABC has announced that it will broadcast the 52 matches across its television, radio, and digital platforms in South Africa. This comes after acquiring the rights to broadcast the tournaments and other CAF competitions.
Among other places, SABC radio stations and SABC sports channels — SABC 1 and SABC 3 — will all air the matches.
7. CANAL+
According to CAF, CANAL+ will also broadcast the tournament. CANAL+ exists in several French-speaking African countries, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon. The platform currently has 7 million subscribers in Africa.
8. Sky Sports
All matches at AFCON 2023 will be available to watch on Sky Sports across the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Ireland. The Sports Channel announced on January 9 that it had secured broadcast rights to the tournament.
9. beinSports
Football enthusiasts from the United States of America can watch the tournament on beinSports. The sports media also operates channels in France, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Japan.
Besides, global TV partners like BBC (United Kingdom), LaLiga+ (Spain), SportItalia (Italy), Sports Digital (Germany & Switzerland), SportTV (Portugal), Viaplay (Nordics), and Band TV (Brazil) will also broadcast the tournament in roughly 180 countries.
Meanwhile, MTN Zambia and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) have partnered to increase media coverage at the tournament by allowing lucky customers to watch AFCON live in Ivory Coast.
