SuperSport returns to African football with money for Champions League final rights

July 15 – African football fans will have the chance to watch the continent’s Champions League final between South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs and Egypt’s Al Ahly after SuperSport secured the rights for the showpiece match. 

“Games on the continent don’t get bigger than this and we are thrilled to showcase Africa’s best in a match of this magnitude,” said SuperSport’s chief executive Marc Jury. “Two of Africa’s super clubs in a major final will no doubt boost fans in these challenging times.”

The Soweto giants have reached the final of the Champions League for the first time, despite a mediocre domestic season. Al Ahly will be the favourites to retain their title. The Egyptians are coached by former Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane.

The match, staged in Casablanca, will be broadcast on Channel 202 in South Africa, channel 205 in Nigeria and on channel 225 on the rest of the continent.

Rights-holders CRTV Sports will air the final in Cameroon.

Last weekend, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe indicated that the ruling body would find a broadcaster for the final. The Confederation Cup final was available to audiences in Francophone Africa as well some Magreb countries.

“What I like is that many TV companies and broadcasting cooperations have been talking to my brother (Véron Mosengo-Omba),” said Motsepe at a news conference last week.

“They say they want to partner and work together. What I like is that they are also putting good money on the table because CAF and the member associations need money. I want every single country in Africa to have access to all of CAF’s football matches. We are dealing with those contracts that we inherited to make sure that we succeed in this objective of access to TV throughout the continent. It is a duty, more than just a commercial opportunity.”

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