The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Media Experts Limited (MEL) and Media Business Solutions (UK) Ltd (MBS) as the exclusive free-to-air broadcast rights holders for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and several other continental football competitions across sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreement is expected to expand access to African football, with the two companies tasked with developing a network of national and regional broadcasters to deliver coverage to more than 500 million households across at least 40 countries.
Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Angola and Ethiopia are among the countries expected to benefit from the arrangement.
CAF announced the appointment following a competitive tender process launched in August 2026 for free-to-air and pay-television broadcasting rights across the region. The agreement completes another stage in preparations for the 2027 tournament, alongside the pay-TV rights deal announced earlier this month.
However, the individual television stations that will broadcast the competition in each country have not yet been confirmed. MEL and MBS are expected to establish partnerships with national and regional broadcasters, with further announcements anticipated in the coming months.
For Nigerian football supporters, the development raises the prospect of watching Africa’s biggest international football tournament on free-to-air television. Nigeria is among the markets included in the agreement, although the specific broadcaster that will carry the matches locally has not yet been named.
Free-to-air television remains an important platform for football across the continent, particularly for viewers who cannot afford pay-TV subscriptions. The arrangement is intended to make major CAF competitions accessible to a wider audience while creating additional opportunities for advertisers and commercial partners.
MEL chief executive Kunle Falodun described free-to-air television as central to how African audiences experience major sporting events, emphasising the importance of ensuring that the continent’s biggest football moments reach households across different markets.
MBS chief executive Richard Dimosi Diasolwa also welcomed the agreement, pointing to the company’s previous experience distributing coverage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire. He said the partnership would help expand the tournament’s reach and bring African football to more viewers.
The agreement extends beyond the 2027 AFCON finals. It also covers the 2026 Futsal Africa Cup of Nations, the 2026 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations, and the 2027 Africa Under-17 and Under-20 Cup of Nations.
The deal therefore gives the two companies a role in distributing coverage of several competitions across different levels of African football, potentially increasing the visibility of emerging players and national teams.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania serving as co-hosts. The tournament will be the first AFCON staged across three host nations and the first held in East Africa since Ethiopia hosted the competition in 1976.
The three host countries are expected to receive free-to-air coverage under the agreement, while Nigeria and other major football markets are also included in the planned distribution network.
CAF has increasingly highlighted the tournament’s growing international audience as it seeks to expand the competition’s commercial reach. The governing body has cited substantial global viewership for recent editions, with the 2025 tournament in Morocco attracting considerable attention across television and digital platforms.
The new arrangement is intended to build on that interest by ensuring that more supporters can watch the competition without necessarily requiring a paid television subscription.
For broadcasters, the agreement creates opportunities to secure sublicensing arrangements and attract advertising revenue associated with one of Africa’s most prominent sporting events. MEL and MBS have invited broadcasters interested in carrying the competitions to discuss potential partnerships, while brands have also been encouraged to explore sponsorship and advertising opportunities.
Nevertheless, the announcement does not mean that every country already has a confirmed television channel for the tournament. The appointed companies must still develop their broadcast network and identify the stations that will carry matches in individual territories.
For Nigerian viewers, the next major development will be the announcement of the local broadcast partner. Until then, supporters will have to wait for confirmation of which free-to-air television station will show the Super Eagles and other participating nations during AFCON 2027.
With the tournament less than a year away, the agreement represents a significant step towards widening access to African football, although the final viewing arrangements will become clearer as CAF and its partners announce additional details.
