CAF NAMES MEL, MBS BROADCAST RIGHTS HOLDER FOR 2027 AFCON

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named MEL and MBS as broadcast rights holders for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a move that will shape how football fans access coverage of the continental tournament.

The announcement highlights the importance of broadcasting partnerships in bringing African football to viewers across different markets and expanding the tournament’s reach.

The 2027 AFCON is expected to attract attention from football fans across Africa and beyond, with national teams competing for one of the continent’s biggest prizes in international football.

Broadcast rights are a major part of organising large sporting events. They determine which media companies can show matches in specific territories and help make games available to audiences through television and other platforms, depending on the terms of each agreement.

The tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027

The agreement is significant for African football because broadcasting partnerships help connect millions of supporters with the competition while generating commercial value for the sport. Coverage arrangements can also determine whether fans watch matches through subscription television, free-to-air channels or other platforms.

For broadcasters, securing AFCON rights offers access to a major continental sporting event that attracts passionate audiences and significant advertising interest. For CAF, these agreements form part of its wider efforts to grow the tournament’s global profile and strengthen its commercial revenue.

The 2027 edition will be particularly notable because three East African countries will jointly host the tournament, creating an opportunity to showcase the region’s football infrastructure, culture and hospitality to an international audience.

Football supporters will be keen to know which channels will carry the matches in their respective countries, particularly whether free-to-air options will be available alongside subscription services.

As preparations continue, the focus will remain on ensuring broad access to the competition and delivering reliable coverage to fans across Africa and beyond.