FootballAFCON 2027 on free TV: more reach for sponsors
CAF has reportedly appointed two agencies to sell AFCON 2027 to free-to-air channels across sub-Saharan Africa, alongside pay-TV.
On 28 October 2026, Inside World Football and other outlets reported that CAF has appointed Media Experts Limited (MEL) and Media Business Solutions (UK) Ltd (MBS) to sell the free-to-air TV rights to AFCON 2027 across sub-Saharan Africa. The tournament takes place from 19 June to 17 July 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
What is included
Besides AFCON 2027, the package covers the 2026 Futsal and Beach Soccer Africa Cups of Nations and the 2027 Under-17 and Under-20 tournaments. Markets named so far include the three hosts, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, DR Congo, Senegal, Angola and Ethiopia. The agencies aim for a network of at least 40 countries and more than 500 million households, a target rather than a measured audience.
Two doors to the same tournament
CAF now sells AFCON twice in the region: on pay-TV and on free TV. In many African markets pay-TV reaches only a minority of homes, so free TV is what brings the matches to the widest audience.
What it means for sponsors
The wider the broadcast, the more people see the logos on pitch-side boards and shirts. For brands weighing a deal with AFCON 2027 or one of the national teams, free-to-air coverage is a strong argument. Two points are still open: the broadcasters have not been named yet, and the exact scope of the contract has not been formally detailed by CAF.
Also: Broadcast Media Africa, 28 October 2026.
Source: Inside World Football, 28 October 2026. Figures as reported by the source.
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