- SuperSport has obtained the broadcast rights to the Ethiopian Premier League.
- This will give Bafana Bafana a much better view of their World Cup qualifying opponents.
- The national men's senior side will contest Group G alongside Ethiopia, Ghana and Zimbabwe when the qualifiers kick off in May.
Bafana Bafana will get a much better view of their World Cup qualifying opponents, Ethiopia, as broadcast giant SuperSport announced the rights to televise the Ethiopian Premier League.
"The Ethiopian Premier League is the top association football division in Ethiopia, and comprises 16 clubs. Broadcasts of the Ethiopian Premier League will be carried across the entire territory of sub-Saharan Africa and the adjacent islands, where the appetite for soccer is substantial," the MultiChoice Group (MCG) said in a statement released on Wednesday.
The national men's senior side will contest Group G alongside Ethiopia, Ghana and Zimbabwe when the qualifiers kick off next year May.
South Africa previously played against the East African side back in 2013 when they attempted to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. That match ended in defeat for Bafana Bafana and failure to secure a ticket to the global showpiece.
However, with SuperSport's latest acquisition to its line-up, Bafana Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki will get a better view of their competition.
"Through SuperSport, we are the leading broadcaster of sport in Africa, with our programming being viewed by millions of fans continent-wide. Sport is an integral part of our content offering and supporting the development of sport content makes sense for our business. This partnership will give the Ethiopian Premier League greater visibility, attracting fans from across the continent," MultiChoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela said.
Ethiopian Premier League chairman, Lt. Fekade Mamo, added: "We recognise the importance of having the right partners on board to contribute in growing our league and to cultivate local talent. This is a significant step forward for the league, and will create a brighter future for players, the industry, and bring Ethiopian football closer to the world."
In the meantime, before the World Cup qualifiers, South Africa will shift their focus to the upcoming friendly matches against Namibia (Thursday, 8 October) and Zambia (Sunday, 11 October).
Next month, Ntseki will also kick-start Bafana Bafana's 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in back-to-back fixtures against African island nation Sao Tome and Principe.
- Compiled by Sport24 staff