SuperSport is reportedly not expected to air the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) set to commence in Ivory Coast on January 13, according to TimesLive.

The newspaper said a circulating statement, seemingly from SuperSport and bearing the MultiChoice letterhead, has been extensively shared on social media, indicating that the pay channel has no plans to broadcast the tournament.

The statement, if it is real, may have been leaked before the channel could release it.

“SuperSport will not broadcast the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 scheduled for January 13 to February 11 2024 because the channel has not secured the rights to broadcast the tournament,” read part of the statement.

In November SuperSport declined to confirm or deny an allegation it was not televising Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers because it wants to focus on European football.

At the time, TimesLIVE reported sources close to SuperSport indicated it was not just the African World Cup qualifiers, Caf Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup the channel had not secured rights for, but also that Afcon was under threat of not being televised by the MultiChoice channel.

Bafana open their Afcon group E campaign against Mali at Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly in Korhogo on January 16 (10pm SA time), then meet Namibia on January 21 and Tunisia on January 24.

Percy Tau headlines South Africa AFCON squad

Al Ahly star, Percy Tau will lead the South African attack at next month’s TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

The reigning CAF Interclub Player of the Year winner headlines the Bafana Bafana squad that was announced by TotalEnergies AFCON 2017 winning coach, Hugo Broos on Thursday, 28 December.

Other noticeable selections include Mamelodi Sundowns key players that enjoyed African Football League glory such as Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena and star player, Themba Zwane.

Bafana Bafana are drawn in Group E where they will face Mali, Namibia as well as Tunisia.

GOALKEEPERS:

Ronwen Williams

Veli Mothwa

Ricardo Goss

DEFENDERS:

Sydney Mobbie

Grant Kekana

Terence Mashego

Nkosinathi Sibisi

Aubrey Modiba

Siyanda Xulu

Mothobi Mvala

Khuliso Mudau

MIDFIELDERS:

Teboho Mokoena

Siphephelo Sithole

Jayden Adams

Thabang Monare

Thapelo Maseko

Thapelo Morena

FORWARDS:

Themba Zwane

Zakhele Lepasa

Oswin Appollis

Mihlali Mayambela

Percy Tau

Evidence Makgopa