SuperSport issues AFCON 2023 blackout
Sports channel says has not secured rights over popular
By Tapiwa Svondo
Popular sports broadcaster, SuperSport Channel has announced it will not be airing the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 tournament this January owing to broadcasting rights issues.
The continent’s biggest football exhibition begins January 13 in Ivory Coast and ends February 11, 2024.
In a statement, the channel cited failure to secure broadcasting rights for the tournament as the reason behind this decision.
“SuperSport Channel will not broadcast the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 scheduled for January 13th February 11th, 2024, because the channel has not secured the rights to broadcast the tournament,” said the company through its parent company, Multichoice.
“However, AFCON 2023 games will be available through our partner broadcast stations on Free to Air (FTA) channels.
“Multichoice Africa remains committed to ensuring football fans across Africa continue to enjoy unrivalled access to entertainment and football games available on DStv and GOtv platforms including, the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Zambian Super League and many more of football’s most prestigious competitions.”
Zimbabwe is not participating in the finals as it did not take part in the qualifiers due to a FIFA ban stemming from a government interference with the game.
AFCON 2023 FIXTURES
– Ivory Coast vs. Guinea-Bissau (Sun, 14 Jan, 16:00)
– Nigeria vs. Equatorial Guinea (Sun, 14 Jan, 19:00)
– Egypt vs. Mozambique (Sun, 14 Jan, 22:00)
– Ghana vs. Cape Verde (Mon, 15 Jan, 16:00)
– Senegal vs. Gambia (Mon, 15 Jan, 19:00)
– Cameroon vs. Guinea (Mon, 15 Jan, 22:00)
– Algeria vs. Angola (Tue, 16 Jan, 16:00)
– Burkina Faso vs. Mauritania (Tue, 16 Jan, 19:00)
– Tunisia vs. Namibia (Tue, 16 Jan, 22:00)
– Mali vs. South Africa (Wed, 17 Jan, 19:00)
– Morocco vs. Tanzania (Wed, 17 Jan, 22:00)
– DR Congo vs. Zambia (Group stage • Matchday 2 of 3, 18 Jan, 16:00)
– Equatorial Guinea vs. Guinea-Bissau (18 Jan, 19:00)
– Ivory Coast vs. Nigeria (18 Jan, 22:00)
– Egypt vs. Ghana (19 Jan, 16:00)
– Cape Verde vs. Mozambique (19 Jan, 19:00)
– Senegal vs. Cameroon (19 Jan, 22:00)
– Guinea vs. Gambia (20 Jan, 16:00)
– Algeria vs. Burkina Faso (20 Jan, 19:00)
– Mauritania vs. Angola (20 Jan, 22:00)
– Tunisia vs. Mali (21 Jan, 16:00)
– Morocco vs. DR Congo (21 Jan, 19:00)
– Zambia vs. Tanzania (21 Jan, 22:00)
– South Africa vs. Namibia (21 Jan, 22:00)
– Guinea-Bissau vs. Nigeria (Group stage • Matchday 3 of 3, 22 Jan, 19:00)
– Equatorial Guinea vs. Ivory Coast (22 Jan, 19:00)
– Mozambique vs. Ghana (22 Jan, 22:00)
– Cape Verde vs. Egypt (22 Jan, 22:00)
– Gambia vs. Cameroon (23 Jan, 19:00)
– Guinea vs. Senegal (23 Jan, 19:00)
– Mauritania vs. Algeria (23 Jan, 22:00)
– Angola vs. Burkina Faso (23 Jan, 22:00)
– Namibia vs. Mali (24 Jan, 19:00)
– South Africa vs. Tunisia (24 Jan, 19:00)
– Zambia vs. Morocco (24 Jan, 22:00)
– Tanzania vs. DR Congo (24 Jan, 22:00).