Following Multichoice’s announcement that the SuperSport pay-TV service will not broadcast live matches of the 2023 AFCON, Nigerians have been scrambling for alternative ways to watch the continent’s biggest football competition.
According to Platinum Times, MultiChoice, the owner of the cable platform DSTV, confirmed last week that the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will not be broadcast on SuperSport (SS) due to a failure to acquire a broadcast rights agreement with the Confederation of African Football.
The loss of AFCON rights is a huge blow for MultiChoice, which has broadcast every edition since 1992.
The tournament, which was slated to begin in 2023, has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions in Ivory Coast and will instead take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
Here are some alternative channels where Nigerian fans can watch live AFCON 2023 matches.
1. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
Nigerians can watch the 2023 African Nations Championship on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the country’s most significant television network.
NTA has been providing live coverage of every AFCON on its renowned NTA Sports 24 channel for free.
2) StarTimes
StarTimes users in Nigeria can watch all 52 AFCON 2023 matches live on StarTimes sports channels or via the StarTimes ON mobile app.
This is another surefire way for football fans to get extensive coverage of the competition.
3. Viaplay
Viaplay provides another option for Nigerians to watch beautiful and exciting football action from the Ivory Coast.
Viaplay is a Swedish video streaming service owned by Viaplay Group, which secured the rights to broadcast all 2023 AFCON matches live.
Viaplay will transmit live AFCON matches in 2023 and 2025, according to the deal.
Viaplay will stream the 2023 AFCON live in over 85 countries, with the exception of the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
4. New World Television
In December 2023, New World TV, a Togo-based network, signed an exclusive three-year contract with CAF to broadcast all of its competitions, including AFCON, in 46 African countries until 2025.
New World TV had already purchased significant sporting rights, including pay-TV rights in Sub-Saharan Africa for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. This may provide an opportunity for fans in Nigeria to see the games.
Nigerians can also take advantage of the opportunity to see their favorite teams in the Ivory Coast.
5. X (formerly Twitter) Sport Influencers
Some X influencers provide streaming links with their platform followers.
You may easily search for AFCON live matches and obtain some results from current matches.
6) Ziggo Sport
Nigerian football supporters in the diaspora can watch all tournament matches on Ziggo Sport, a Dutch pay-TV network.
Ziggo Sport has obtained the exclusive rights to broadcast live action from two Africa Cup of Nations editions: 2023 in Ivory Coast and 2025 in Morocco.