The Bafana Bafana-Nigeria rivalry fueled record-breaking viewership for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, with a massive audience tuning in for the semi-final.
The continental showpiece took place in Ivory Coast in January and February of this year, with the hosts emerging victorious over the Super Eagles in the final.
The tournament was hailed as “the best ever” by many across the continent. It showed immense signs of growth particularly from the viewership point of view.
Given the historical rivalry between the two countries, it was inevitable that the Bafana and Super Eagles match would attract a massive audience.
South Africa sought revenge for their AFCON 2019 quarter-final defeat to Nigeria. However, the Super Eagles triumphed once again, this time via a penalty shootout.
And according to Nielsen Sports South Africa, this match alone registered 10.3 million viewers on SuperSport and SABC platforms.
TOTAL NUMBER OF TV VIEWERS ALL AROUND THE WORLD
Meanwhile, the CAF AFCON tournament attracted a total of 1.4 billion TV viewers worldwide, as reported by Nielsen.
Luxolo September, the Head of TV/Commercial at CAF, believes that this demonstrates how African football can become a globally competitive product when the right individuals are in charge.
“The unprecedented success of AFCON is a big vote of confidence in African football,” said Luxolo September, Head of TV/Commercial at CAF. “It proves that with the right people in place, African football is a globally competitive product that delivers commercial returns.”
Errol Madlala, SAFA’s Commercial and Marketing Manager, added: “AFCON 2023 went beyond mere viewership numbers as it also became a narrative and commercial driver, especially when Bafana Bafana was in action. Our partners were able to leverage the tournament with fan activations driven by broadcast as our team progressed. As the tournament continues its growing influence in the global sports industry, AFCON remains a testament to African football fans’ unwavering passion and resilience within the continent and expats in many parts of the world.”
