AFCON 2023: SABC to Only Show Bafana Bafana Matches Plus Select Clashes

• AFCON 2023 coverage in South Africa will be limited to sporadic games by the SABC
• Subscription service provider Multichoice were unsuccessful in securing the rights
• The SABC is understood to be sub-licensing the rights from a Togolese broadcaster

South African footballs have had their excitement tempered somewhat.

Football fans anticipating an almost daily continental feast from Africa's finest are finding out the games will be hard to come by on television.

Multichoice announced that they had not been successful in obtaining the rights and now the SABC has clarified that they will only offer limited coverage of the event.

South African audiences are used to the buffet served up by Multichoice's SuperSport season after season.

The broadcasting giants are said to be facing stiff competition in emerging sports markets meaning the covering is becoming more rationed.

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New World TV is the broadcaster that has obtained the exclusive rights for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and have reportedly out-negotiated their South African competition, as per Cash N Sport.

Fans question Multichoice over AFCON

Multichoice announced their situation to customers in a statement that said the broadcaster 'remains committed to ensuring football fans across Africa continue to enjoy unrivalled access'.

The message did not sit well with paying supporters, who took to X to question Multichoice's priorities.

#unmoved @itskroon declared:

"Don’t ever pretend to speak for Africans again. This is beyond embarrassing. But Malta vs Albania, nah that you’ll show to Africans. [What] is wrong with you people."

The SABC are expected to announce on January 5 what games they have secured via a sublicensing agreement. Mpho Kay Malope @mphoZARous posted:

"At least that's something, unlike Supersport who will broadcast every EURO 2024 match but not even a single AFCON, that time they are if not the biggest sport broadcaster in AFRICA."

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SABC outmanoeuvre Multichoice for cricket rights

Sports Brief previously reported on SABC Sport negotiating a broadcast deal for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

The state broadcaster was able to wrangle a sub-licensing agreement with Multichoice for all Proteas' games.

A similar standoff was seen prior to the Rugby World Cup, where the SABC again sealed important coverage.