SuperSport may not air AFCON as MultiChoice fails to secure broadcast rights

MultiChoice, the owner of DStv and GOtv, has announced that it failed to secure the broadcasting rights for this month’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

The broadcast powerhouse said its SuperSport channel is unlikely to show the competition billed to commence on January 13.

A top source at MultiChoice confirmed the development to TheCable on Wednesday.

MultiChoice’s failure to secure the broadcast rights has left most football fans in sub-Saharan Africa unsure of their viewing of the forthcoming continental competition.

The 34th edition of the AFCON will be held in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in Group A alongside the hosts, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria will take on Equatorial Guinea in their opening game on January 14 before facing Ivory Coast four days later and rounding off the group stage with the Guinea-Bissau tie.

The Eagles are camped in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for a one-week training before flying back to Lagos on January 9 and proceeding to Ivory Coast a day later.

Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of the competition, and Alhassan Yusuf has been drafted as his replacement on the Super Eagles team.