Category: Football Africa

SuperSport make Africa Cup of Nations U-turn to broadcast showpiece tournament
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

SuperSport make Cup of Nations U-turn to broadcast showpiece

SuperSport TV has announced they will broadcast all 52 matches of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2023 Ivory Coast 2023 live after MultiChoice secured the rights to broadcast the continent’s showpiece tournament.

Following their initial announcement of not broadcasting the event, they have made a U-turn after securing broadcasting rights for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals set to take place in Ivory Coast, commencing in two days.

The 34th edition is set to kick off on 13 January 2024 until 11 February 2024 as hosts Ivory Coast take on Guinea-Bissau at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara.

“MultiChoice reached a commercially viable agreement with rightsholders, New World TV (NWTV), to broadcast the 34th edition of Africa’s premier men’s football competition taking place in Ivory Coast,” Super Sport confirmed.

Rendani Ramovha, SuperSport CEO, said: “We are delighted to be able to showcase the best of African football live to our viewers.”

As part of this agreement, Nimonka Kolani, Managing Director of NWTV, declared: “By securing the rights to CAN 2023 under the leadership of Dr Patrice Motsepe, SuperSport and NWTV prove that nothing is more important than the happiness of Africans who wish to follow the exploits of their favourite team during the biggest football competition in Africa.”

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Sullay Kaikai nets in Cambridge United's FA Cup defeat
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sullay Kaikai nets in Cambridge United’s FA Cup defeat

Sierra Leone International Sullay Kaikai scored as Cambridge United’s run in the Emirates FA Cup ended at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers came away 5-2 winners of the third-round tie.

Kaikai, 28, goal came in the 26th minute, assisted by Okedina to put the visitors 2-1 ahead following Blackburn Rovers‘ Samuel Szmodics equaliser in the 23rd minute.

Lankester had opened the scoring for Cambridge United in the six-minute, but it was a Szmodics first-half hat-trick that grabbed the local headlines before a Harry Leonard fifth in the 81st-minute to confirm their progression into the next round.

Kaikai, who made his 22 appearances since joining the club, was subbed off in the 86th minute as they succumbed to a 5-2 defeat.

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Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast ease past Sierra Leone ahead of AFCON opener

Jean-Louis Gasset‘s Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium with three first-half goals on Saturday.

Diomand Othman opened the 2023 Cup of Nations host in the 18 minutes when headed home a Jeremie Boga cross before Franck Kessie doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark.

Three more goals were scored from Jonathan Bamba, Jeremie Boga and Amani Lazare in the 38, 48 and 84th minutes, respectively, which were enough for the home team.

Sierra Leone’s only goal came through Rodney Michael’s fine finish assisted by Abu Komeh in the 86th minute as consolation.

The tie was part of the Ivorian’s preparation for the 34th edition of the continent’s biggest footballing event to run from 13 January to 11 February 2024 in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouake, San Pedro, and Korhogo.

Sierra Leone’s next friendly is against Morocco next Thursday at the same venue. 

Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephant eased to a 5-1 victory over their visitors, Sierra Leone, at Laurent Pokou Stadium
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi ruled out of AFCON

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been ruled out of Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign due to injury.

Ndidi, 27, suffered the setback during Leicester City’s 2-0 win at Cardiff City on December 29.

The three-time African champions begin their Group A campaign against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January before taking on their West African counterpart hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

The midfielder was named in the Super Eagles’ 25-man squad on 29 December but was absent from his club side’s win over Huddersfield Town on Monday.

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced Royal Antwerp midfielder Alhassan Yusuf as Ndidi’d replacement.

Nigeria are still hopeful Ndidi’s Leicester team-mate Kelechi Iheanacho will be able to join the squad.

Forward Iheanacho, 27, has missed the Foxes’ past two games in the Championship with a muscle problem.

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New Africa Cup of Nations Winner Price Money is $7m
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Africa Cup of Nations Winner Price Money is $7m

The Confederation of African Football has today announced a 40% increase in the Prize Money for the Winner of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Afcon’s winning price is now $7m as the continent’s biggest football event set to kick off on Saturday, January 13, with host Ivory Coast taking on Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

CAF also stated that the runner-up of AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 will now get $4 million. Each semi-finalist will receive $2.5 million, and each of the four quarter-finalists will receive $1.3 million.

CAF President Patrice Motzepe said he’s confident that the increase will help the development of football on the continent.

“CAF has made significant progress over the past two years in increasing the Prize Money of the AFCON and all its other major competitions. We have increased the Prize Money of the AFCON Winner to USD 7 000 000 which is a 40% increase from the previous AFCON Prize Money.”

“I am confident that a portion of the Prize Money will contribute to developing football and also benefit all the football stakeholders, as well as assist our Member Associations with their administrations.”