AFCON 2023 opening ceremony: When is it and where can you watch it live?

AFCON 2023 opening ceremony: When is it and where can you watch it live?
Credit: Icon Sport

There is sadness in the air in Africa as the continent's biggest broadcaster, Multichoice, will not be airing the AFCON 2023 opening ceremony or the games itself.

However, there are several options for Nigerians and other Africans to watch the opening ceremony to the 34th Africa Cup of Nations.

New World TV, a Togolese broadcast platform, has the major rights to broadcast the tournament which starts from 13 January until 11 February 2024 and will see 24 teams battle it out.

Keep reading to find out what channels will air the AFCON 2023 opening ceremony thanks to New World TV.

When is the AFCON 2023 opening ceremony?

The AFCON 2023 opening ceremony will kick off the 34th edition of Africa's biggest football festival.

First hosted by CAF in 1957 in Sudan, there have been 15 winners of the tournament. Egypt have won the most titles, with the Super Eagles of Nigeria being the fourth most successful national team with three titles behind Ghana (4) and Cameroon (5).

Senegal, who won their first title in Cameroon to cap the 2021 AFCON tournament, will be defending their title in Ivory Coast, the host of the 2023 AFCON tournament.

The AFCON 2023 opening ceremony which kicks off the Teranga Lions’ title defence will be held on 13 January 2023 at the 60,000-capacity Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, also known as the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s commercial capital.

The ceremony will kickoff at 7 PM WAT.

With the tournament not being broadcast on Multichoice, read on to see where you can watch it in Nigeria.

Star Times

Star Times Group’s African broadcasting platform, Star Times, will air the AFCON 2023 opening ceremony and the 52 matches of the tournament.

Star Times decoders are available everywhere in Nigeria and their packages range from ₦1,200 to ₦9,800. Select the package that allows you access to the sports channels, pay and enjoy the 34th Africa Cup of Nations.

Star Times also has a mobile app called “Star Times ON” which you can download and stream the matches from after you have paid a subscription fee.

Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)

The NTA, run by the government of Nigeria, is a free-to-air channel. Any household with a television can access the channel.

It can also be found on Star Times and on Multichoice’s DStv and GOtv platforms. A subscription is not needed to access NTA channels but on Star Times and DStv, a subscription is needed.

They will be broadcasting the AFCON 2023 opening ceremony and most of the matches of the tournament from Ivory Coast.

Their focus, however, will be on matches involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria led by José Peseiro as they look to capture a fourth African title.

New World TV

After capturing the rights to broadcast the 2023 tournament, New World TV, primarily a Francophone broadcaster, will also be airing the tournament.

However, with English being the main language for AFCON 2023, they will be setting up an English language studio to cover the game.

This presents an opportunity for Nigerians, who can access New World TV via streams. Visit their website and pay for the required packages to watch the AFCON 2023 opening ceremony and all 52 games of the tournament.

beIN Sports

beIN Sports has been one of CAF’s biggest broadcast partners for the diaspora audience. That partnership continues with the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The beIN Sports channels are not accessible in Nigeria. However, with a VPN and access to legal streaming apps like Fanatiz and Fubo TV that host beIN Sports channels, Nigerians can watch the AFCON 2023 opening ceremony and all Super Eagles’ matches anywhere in the world.

This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago

Daniel Kolade
All-round lover of the beautiful game. Massive football fan, supported Arsenal for decades for reasons that are unexplainable. One day we will win the Champions League!
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