CABLE television service provider StarTimes has secured the rights to show the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Nigeria and other sub-Sahara countries.

StarTimes announced the rights acquisition today, two days after its rival SuperSport, who had broadcast the previous editions of the tournament, confirmed it would not be showing AFCON 2023.

The tournament will be held in from January 13 to February 11 across five cities in Cote d’Ivoire, with the Super Eagles of Nigeria one of 24 national teams taking part.

“In a groundbreaking move that promises to redefine sports broadcasting, media giant StarTimes has officially secured the rights to air the highly anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 and all CAF events held in 2024 in Anglophone and Lusophone countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2025 Qualifiers,” StarTimes stated today.

“This strategic acquisition cements StarTimes’ commitment to delivering premium sports content to its viewers and reinforces its position as a leading player in the African media landscape.

“All the fifty-two matches will be aired exclusively on Sports Premium, Sports Life and Beta Sports channels.

“The Africa Cup of Nations, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), stands as one of the most prestigious football tournaments on the continent.”

The Confederation of African Football had announced in November that it had sold the rights to AFCON and other competitions to New World TV, a relatively new outfit based in Togo, for the next three years.

New World TV in turn has redistributed the rights to channels across the continent, with StarTimes and some free-to-air stations set to show the matches of AFCON 2023 to Nigerians.

[NaijaTimes]