Thinus Ferreira
New Canal+ Africa boss David Mignot again hogged the limelight on Thursday afternoon in SuperSport's Studio 6 in Randburg when he hobnobbed with CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe during SuperSport's announcement that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 will be broadcast on MultiChoice's DStv with multiple language options.
Thursday's SuperSport in-studio announcement derby was David Mignot's second big public appearance following his meet-and-greet last month in Namibia with the country's president where MultiChoice debut a pandering profile piece of Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Oddly, and somewhat hilariously, Rendani Ramovha, former SuperSport CEO and now Canal+ Africa director of sport content for English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, was pushed out of photos on Thursday with SuperSport only issuing media with signing and posing photos of David Mignot and Dr Patrice Motsepe.
Canal+ is taking credit for the CAF clinching, noting that it's Canal+ that will show the CAF Afcon 2025 from Morocco from 21 December "in French, English, Portuguese and indigenous languages, following SuperSport's deal for English-speaking broadcast rights of the 35th edition of the tournament".
CAF Afcon 2025 won't be made available on MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax. MultiChoice will run a dedicated SuperSport Afcon TV channel on the DStv line-up in December.
David Mignot, in a prepared quote, says "Our newly-formed merger with MultiChoice has already unlocked opportunities and benefits for our customers".
"This year’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is a great demonstration of the power and potential of this common ambition: bringing together our expertise to offer unprecedented coverage."
"Moreover, broadcasting this competition in different languages is a strong way to build closeness with our viewers. For all these reasons, our subscribers will be part of the most spectacular celebration of African football."
Dr Patrice Motsepe's drop-in quote reads: "This is an exciting day for CAF and for African football".
"When the CAF Africa Cup of Nations takes place in Morocco in December, Africans everywhere - on the continent and across the diaspora - will be watching with pride. Millions will follow the games on television, celebrating the best that African football has to offer."
Rendani Ramovha in a supplied quote says "We are especially proud to be able to bring the story of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 live to all our viewers in English and Portuguese-speaking Sub-Saharan African territories".
"SuperSport has been the preferred choice for millions of passionate fans across the continent, and this tournament won’t be different, as we will have a dedicated SuperSport AFCON channel."
According to SuperSport, in Nigeria viewers will be able to hear coverage in English or Pidgin. Swahili will be available in East African countries like Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
South Africa, Angola and Mozambique will get a Portuguese option on SuperSport. South Africa will add a isiZulu and Setswana language options besides English and Portuguese commentary.
