Canal+ has acquired exclusive broadcasting rights to all UEFA men’s club competitions across more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, strengthening its position as one of the continent’s biggest sports broadcasters.
The agreement gives the French media group exclusive rights to broadcast the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League from the 2027-28 season through 2031. It covers all languages across the region and expands Canal+’s already extensive sports portfolio.
The deal marks a major shift for football fans in French-speaking Africa, where subscribers will, for the first time, have access to all three UEFA club competitions under a single broadcaster. Previously, coverage focused primarily on the Champions League.
In English and Portuguese-speaking markets, Canal+’s subsidiary SuperSport will continue to broadcast the competitions exclusively, ensuring continuity for viewers while consolidating UEFA rights under the Canal+ group.
The acquisition adds to Canal+’s growing portfolio of premium football rights in Africa, which already includes major domestic and international competitions such as the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, France’s Ligue 1 and South Africa’s Betway Premiership.
Canal+ Chief Executive Maxime Saada said the agreement reinforces the company’s ambition to offer the strongest sports content in Sub-Saharan Africa. He described the acquisition as another step in building the region’s leading sports entertainment platform.
The deal also reflects the growing commercial value of African sports audiences. With pay television and streaming competition intensifying across the continent, premium football rights have become a key battleground for broadcasters seeking to attract and retain subscribers.
European club competitions remain among the most watched sporting events in Africa, driven by the popularity of clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich, as well as a growing number of African stars playing in Europe’s top leagues.
The new agreement means Canal+ subscribers will continue to watch leading African players, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Serhou Guirassy, Nicolas Jackson, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, competing in Europe’s elite club tournaments over the next four seasons.
The acquisition further strengthens Canal+’s footprint in Africa following its expansion through MultiChoice and underscores the continent’s increasing importance in the global sports broadcasting market.
Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
Linda Ikeji (Nigeria)
Most Impactful Work: Her highly popular online platform, Linda Ikeji’s Blog.
Short Bio: Linda Ikeji is a Nigerian media entrepreneur and blogger who pioneered digital news publishing in Nigeria with her blog. What started as a gossip blog has evolved into one of the most visited news and entertainment platforms on the continent, making her a significant influencer in African media.
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Fun South African Fact: The Karoo region in the Western Cape is home to some of the best fossils of early dinosaurs. In fact, it is estimated that some 80% of the mammalian fossils found to date were found in the Karoo.