SuperSport won't broadcast AFCON 2023 after losing rights

SuperSport, the leading cable sports network in sub-Saharan Africa, will miss its usual role of broadcasting the continent's premier football event, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Despite long-standing coverage of the AFCON, SuperSport and its parent company, MultiChoice, confirmed today in a statement that they will not air the tournament scheduled for January 13 to February 11, 2024.

"SuperSport Channels will not broadcast the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 scheduled for January 13th to February 11th, 2024 because the channel has not secured the rights to broadcast the tournament," the statement reads.

However, fans will not be entirely left in the dark, as matches will be available through partner Free-to-Air (FTA) channels.

The change of guard stems from November's announcement by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarding Togo-based New World TV a three-year deal for all its football content. This means New World TV, instead of SuperSport, holds the rights to broadcast the 2023 AFCON across sub-Saharan Africa, while beIN Sports secured the MENA (Middle-East and North Africa) region rights.

This is not the first time CAF's deal with New World TV has impacted fans. It caused millions across sub-Saharan Africa to miss out on watching their national teams in the opening rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in November.

In Ghana, AFCON 2023 will be broadcast free-to-air by state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and its subsidiaries including GTV and GTV Sports Plus.