The preview for AFCON 2023 revolves around the challenges faced by the tournament, from financial issues to conflicts between club and country. When the live broadcast of the tournament was confirmed, it piqued the interest of Nigerians, especially since both the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and DSTV announced that they would be airing all 52 fixtures of the event.
For many Nigerians, the prospect of purchasing a StarTimes decoder or investing in high-volume Internet for streaming would have been a significant financial burden amidst the current economic challenges. The absence of AFCON on DSTV would have considerably impacted the tournament’s viewership, as it holds a substantial share of the football market, according to Steve Dede, the former Sports Editor at Pulse.
The timing of the tournament has sparked a debate, with concerns about the tension it causes between clubs and countries due to player call-ups. This issue was exemplified by the case of Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, who will start Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Tottenham, despite his involvement in the upcoming AFCON for Cameroon.
The tournament has also faced player rejections, like Angola striker, M’Bala Nzola, who declined the invite to concentrate on his club career in Italy, raising questions about the scheduling and logistical arrangements of the competition.
Additionally, there are concerns regarding the inflexibility of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in scheduling the tournament, as it competes for viewership and TV money with the less-fancied Asian Cup at this time of the year. Despite these challenges, CAF has increased the prize money for the 2023 edition of AFCON, with the winner set to receive $7m, demonstrating the financial significance of the event.
Amidst these issues, the tournament is expected to showcase top African football talent, with defending champions Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, and Ghana among the contenders. Moreover, the inclusion of previous winners like Zambia and finalists Burkina Faso could lead to another major upset in the competition.
In summary, the upcoming AFCON presents a mix of challenges and opportunities, setting the stage for an exciting display of African football.