To be completely honest, Nigerians were not particularly excited about the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations until it was established the competition will be televised live.
In the span of 24 hours, both the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, and DSTV (owners of GoTV), said they will broadcast all 52 events.
Anything other than this would have been very low, as the alternative would have been to buy a StarTimes decoder or invest in high volume Internet for streaming in this crushing economy.
“The absence of AFCON on DSTV would have represented a significant setback for the tournament’s viewership.
“DSTV holds a substantial share of the market, particularly in football viewership,” Steve Dede, the immediate past Sports Editor at Pulse told DAILY POST.
Prior to the announcements, Dede had warned that “as it stands, AFCON may not possess the appeal to prompt individuals to invest in an additional satellite service.
“This circumstance dampens the excitement surrounding the event, evident in the relatively low hype even just four days before its commencement.
“The lack of awareness among the public about the AFCON further underscores the impact. DSTV might have played a crucial role by publicizing the competition to its football customers, thereby raising interest and engagement.”
So, yes. The fans are all set for this year’s AFCON.
The players- at least most of them are in Ivory Coast, as the action kicks off this Saturday.
The issue on whether January/February is the optimum period for the competition, as invitations of players cause tension between club and nation, is still ongoing.
Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, will start Sunday’s Premier League encounter against Tottenham, as his team looks to rise up the table into Champions League contention.
“That sends such a bad message, not only for Cameroon, but for the respect people will have for the Africa Cup of Nations and for the way they should treat us, the equality,” Sebastien Bassong, a former Cameroon defender, told the BBC last week.
“If we don’t even respect ourselves how can you expect other people to treat you any differently?
“I like Andre, I will always have his back when I have to, but when things like that happen…the nation, the pride of the country and the continent is way above an individual person.”
Angola striker, M’Bala Nzola, reportedly refused an invitations for the 2023 AFCON.
The Fiorentina forward was chosen in Pedro Goncalves’ final squad for the competition.
But despite playing a significant role in qualification, Nzola will not be part of the side headed to Ivory Coast.
According to Palancas Negras, Nzola refused the call-up in order to concentrate on his club career in Italy.
This is the second time the player has denied an invite, citing poor logistical arrangements as his reason for missing the last round of games in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Dede believes the Confederation of African Football, CAF, should be more flexible with their scheduling.
He said: “Regarding the timing of AFCON, I urge CAF to consistently prioritize both their organization and the African game.
“I believe the schedule should remain flexible, allowing for the tournament to be hosted at the most suitable time, taking into account the host country’s preferences and favorable weather conditions.
“The argument against factoring in weather conditions lacks validity. CAF must include weather as a vital part, considering that football is preferably played under optimal conditions, including pleasant weather.
“Hosting AFCON at the right time ensures the best experience for players and fans alike.”
CAF might find it tough to be flexible however, given they only fight for eyeballs and TV money with the less-fancied Asian Cup at this time of the year, instead than the Euros or Copa America in June/July.
The money from sponsorship, for instance, has seen CAF boost the AFCON prize money for the 2023 event.
The winner of the biennial competition will go home with $7m. The runners-up will now collect $4m, while each of the two semi-finalists will receive $2,500,000. Each of the four quarter-finalists will win $1,300,000.
Despite the issues- addressed and unresolved, the AFCON is expected to excite audiences with the very best of African football.
Defending champions, Senegal, World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco and record winners Egypt are all in contention, as are other traditional African powerhouses like Nigeria, Algeria and Ghana.
The competition could possibly record another huge upset as 2012 winners Zambia and 2013 finalists Burkina Faso also feature this year.
Let the games begin!