Nigerians Kick As AFCON 2025 Free-to-Air Deal Favours Europe

Football enthusiasts across Nigeria are vehemently protesting a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that grants European broadcasters access to all 52 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 matches on free-to-air television, while African nations are limited to just 32.

With the tournament in Morocco just days away, the disparity has sparked widespread accusations of injustice.

CAF’s decision means that terrestrial channels in Africa will only be able to show 32 of the 52 fixtures, a move many Nigerians deemed insufficient. In stark contrast, European viewers, including those in the UK where Channel 4 will broadcast all matches across its platforms, will enjoy total coverage.

Malik Sani, an Abuja-based football aficionado, expressed disbelief: “Will UEFA limit the number of EURO Championship matches to be shown in Europe to 32 and give Africa 52 matches? We all know Europeans will never do that.”

He highlighted the irony of limiting African viewers, many of whom rely on terrestrial television, while offering full access to Europeans, a significant number of whom already subscribed to pay-TV.

CAF General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba, lauded the UK deal, stating it “ensures that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will live in every household in the UK.” This statement has further fuelled anger among Nigerian fans like Stanley Okoro from Enugu, who questioned the priorities placed on African viewers.

The discontent isn’t isolated to Nigeria, with Francophone public broadcasters also demanding access to all 52 matches, arguing that the current arrangement contradicts the principle of universal access for a competition partly funded by governments.

Speculations were rife that CAF President Patrice Motsepe’s alleged links to French broadcaster Canal+, which recently acquired MultiChoice Group, may have influenced the decision, subtly pushing African viewers towards pay-television subscriptions. Nigerians are urging their government and other African Heads of State to intervene and reverse the decision before the tournament commences on December 21, 2025.