AFCON 2025: UK’s Channel 4 secures historic free-to-air rights in landmark deal with CAF
The Confederation of African Football has reached a groundbreaking agreement with Channel 4 that will make the UK broadcaster the exclusive home of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
The deal marks the first time the tournament will be available free-to-air in the United Kingdom, giving millions of viewers unprecedented access to Africa’s biggest football event.
Channel 4’s acquisition of the rights ensures that all 52 matches of the expanded tournament will be broadcast live across its platforms.
Coverage will run on Channel 4, E4, 4Seven, Channel 4 Streaming and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel. The competition begins on Sunday, 21 December 2025, with 24 nations competing across nine stadiums in Morocco.
CAF General Secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba described the partnership as a milestone for African football.
He said the arrangement guarantees the tournament’s presence in homes across the UK for the first time.
“The agreement between CAF and Channel 4 is historic in many ways,” he said. Mosengo-Omba also highlighted AFCON’s increasing global value, adding that CAF looks forward to a partnership “that will deliver growth for both parties.”
Channel 4 Head of Sport Pete Andrews said the network is eager to showcase a competition filled with recognisable Premier League talent.
“Bringing the excitement and drama of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations exclusively to UK Free-to-Air television for the first time is such a compelling proposition,” he noted.
The tournament will feature a strong Premier League contingent, led by Egyptian stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. Egypt, the competition’s most successful nation, face Zimbabwe on 22 December and South Africa on 26 December.
Other Premier League players set to feature include Manchester United trio Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, along with Everton pair Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye.
Fulham’s Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey are expected to represent Nigeria, while West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is in line to appear for DR Congo.
Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr and Wolves defender Emmanuel Agbadou are also among the notable names preparing for the event.
The agreement was finalised with IMG, CAF’s international media rights and sponsorship partner, supporting the deal.
