Qatar 2022: African World Cup Broadcaster Struck by 'Jealous' Cyber Attackers

• One of West Africa's emerging broadcasting powerhouses almost had its 2022 FIFA World Cup coverage derailed
• Togo's New World TV became the target of a sophisticated cyber-attack a few days before kick-off in Qatar
• There are whispers that the attack came as a result of competitors not being happy that the relatively young company upset the applecart

New World TV's coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup was nearly derailed because of a cyber-attack.

The incident happened in the week ahead of the tournament kicking off in Qatar. The Togolese broadcaster is relatively young but announced itself as a 'big dog' of the media game out in West Africa, having parted ways with millions of dollars for broadcast rights in sub-Saharan Africa.

The channel's communication manager Gilles Bocco said to BBC Sport Africa:

"The technicians recorded seven attacks from different sources on Monday 21 November. There were viral attacks that reached one of the servers. People will get to know where these attacks came from very soon."

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The director-general of the country's sovereign cyber-security agency Commander Gwaliba Gbota said:

"We have learned that New World TV is under attack, so our Cyber Defence Africa operational unit has contacted the media group to see how best we can help them. We believe the prowess of the group in obtaining the rights to broadcast all the World Cup matches across sub-Saharan African countries does not please everyone."

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Be careful what you wish for - or curse. England and Liverpool legend Michael Owen finally responded to his 'troll' Dillan Oliphant.

The South African comedian is not exactly his biggest fan and always has a chirp at the end of his football-related videos on social media, as reported by Sports Brief.

During a broadcasting break of SuperSport's coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Owen's fellow analyst Stanton Fredericks recorded a cellphone message that he sent to Oliphant, with a special surprise.