In the African sports scene, the news that SuperSport, a long-time partner of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has withdrawn from broadcasting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has caused surprise and excitement. SuperSport, involved in several CAF projects, including the African School League, the African Champions League and the Confederation Cup (Nelson Mandela Cup), was considered a natural favorite to cover the prestigious tournament.
The turnaround began to take shape on November 10, 2023, when CAF announced the winners of two crucial public tenders. The first was for the broadcaster that would cover the AFCON, and the second was related to the digital coverage of the tournament on social media, both live and in summaries. The expectation was that African broadcasters, especially those that participated in the coverage of the qualifying rounds for the Africa Cup of Nations, would be the winners.
However, the surprise came with the announcement that Gingate Band Sport of Brazil had won the rights to broadcast AFCON, beating SuperSport, its main up-and-coming competitor. The news caught the African sports world by surprise, generating speculation and rumors about the reasons behind the decision.
SuperSport has until January 3, 2024, to exercise its option to purchase the broadcasting rights. Rumors are circulating indicating that the amounts involved may be a significant obstacle, raising doubts about the possibility of SuperSport making the purchase at the last minute.
Meanwhile, Band has already started promoting AFCON, highlighting that the tournament can be followed in its entirety on its digital platforms, such as the Bandplay app, the Band.com.br website, and the Esporte na Band YouTube channel.
This twist in the AFCON broadcast adds an intriguing element to the tournament preparations, leaving fans and the sports world eager to see how this change will impact coverage and the viewer experience. The unfolding of this story promises to be as exciting as the matches themselves.
