Google has announced that YouTube will broadcast the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening ceremony and highlights through a dedicated channel.
The announcement was made on the Google Africa Twitter account, which also provided a link to the channel.
“Africa Cup of Nations! Live stream opening ceremony this Sat & game highlights throughout on YouTube,” the tweet read.
The broadcasting of the competition has been a source of contention in several countries, with no solution yet agreed over who will screen the competition in Nigeria after a meeting between the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) and the pan-African LC2, who hold the rights, reached deadlock.
It was only at the start of this month that broadcasting rights were agreed in host nation South Africa, with the South African Broadcasting Corporation signing a R65 million (US$7.5 million) deal after protracted negotiations.
AFCON begins this Saturday, January 19, in Johannesburg, with hosts South Africa playing Cape Verde. It concludes with the final on February 10.
