Nigerians turn to NTA, others as DSTV announces SS won’t broadcast AFCON 2023

Nigerians will have to turn to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and other free-to-air channels to watch the Super Eagles in action at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

MultiChoice, owner of Cable platform DSTV on Wednesday announced that it will not broadcast the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on SuperSport (SS).

The 2023 AFCON will kick off in Ivory Coast on January 13, 2024.

MultiChoice in a statement said it failed to secure the right to broadcast the 2023 AFCON.

“However, AFCON 2023 games will be available through our partner broadcast stations on Free to Air (FTA) channels,” Multichoice said.

MultiChoice, however, said other football games in the Premier League, La Liga, Series A, and Zambian Super League will air on SuperSport.

The 2023 AFCON will begin with the Group A match between host nation, Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on January 13, 2024.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are also in Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. 

Nigeria’s opening game is against Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on Sunday, January 14 at 2:00 pm.

The Super Eagles will hope to win the AFCON tournament for the fourth time, having previously done so at Nigeria 1980, Tunisia 1994 and South Africa 2013.

Earlier in the week, Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro said his team has the best attack heading into the 2023 AFCON and are confident of victory.

“Currently the Super Eagles have the best attack on the continent and I have evaluated the players, the situation and I want to win the AFCON, it’s my goal, my objective,” he said on Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) website.

Peseiro admits the task is “not going to be easy” because there are other teams but Nigeria will fight to win the AFCON.

“Our group is not easy, Côte d’Ivoire is one of the favourites because they have a good squad and they are playing at home.”