Canal+, the international pay-TV media powerhouse, has acquired the rights to UEFA men’s club competitions in a range of territories across sub-Saharan Africa, which it will air exclusively via its SuperSport channel.
The rights deal covers the next four seasons (2027-28 to 2030-31) of the top-tier UEFA Champions League (UCL), second-tier Europa League, third-tier Conference League, and development category Youth League, as well as the Super Cup, which is contested by the UCL and Europa League winners.
The deal spans the full range of English, Portuguese, and French-speaking nations in sub-Saharan Africa, cementing Canal+ and SuperSport’s pay-TV sports dominance in the region.
Crucially for Canal+, this agreement represents total coverage. SuperSport retains the English and Portuguese-language rights it held during the previous 2024-27 cycle, while adding the French-language rights currently held by Togo-based rival New World TV.
Sportcal understands that Canal+ had to beat out numerous bidders in a range of markets, including in some cases over 20 offers, to acquire its coveted exclusivity across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Canal+ also said that this is the first time that Europa League and Conference League soccer will be made available in French in these markets.
Speaking on the agreement, Canal+ chair Maxime Saada said: “We are very proud of this new partnership, which provides exclusive and comprehensive coverage of UEFA men’s club competitions in over 40 sub-Saharan African countries.
This deal was brokered by the UC3 commercial arm, a joint venture between UEFA and the European Football Clubs body, and Relevent Football partners, UEFA’s sales agency for the club competitions through 2033, spanning media, sponsorship, and licensing rights.
Saada continued: “Our sports offering is currently the most attractive in all sub-Saharan African countries. The acquisition of these rights perfectly illustrates this. We extend our sincere thanks to UC3 and the Relevent teams for their continued trust, following our recent agreements in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, and Austria.”
Indeed, Canal+’s main brand unit holds these same rights in those five territories courtesy of agreements struck earlier this year, including, for the first time, Belgium.
Several African soccer’s biggest stars compete in UEFA club competitions, including RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Manchester United’s Amad Diallo (both Ivory Coast), Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and Atletico Madrid’s Ademola Lookman (both Nigeria), Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo (Ghana), and Borussia Dortmund’s Sehrou Guirassy (Guinea).
Other prominent soccer rights held by Canal+ in the Sub-Saharan market include England’s top-tier Premier League, France’s Ligue 1, Spain’s LaLiga, and more.
