If you, like many, wrote off South Africa’s chances in AFCON 2024 when the hosts, Ivory Coast, kicked things off on 13 January, we bet you feel like a silly billy now. Bafana Bafana has officially progressed through the tournament and into the quarter-finals with a convincing win over Morocco in the late hours of Tuesday.
It was the efforts of South Africa’s Evidence Makgopa and his 57th-minute goal against Moroccan goalie Bono (not that one) and a free-kick goal from Teboho Mokoena that put the final nail in the coffin in a match that was never really ever going to go another way.
A big Plus for AFCON
Now if you, like many, are trying to pretend that you always had faith in our country’s national team, but have yet to sit down and cheer them on, it’s not too late to fix that. We’re directing you to the official channels so that you can quietly fix your mistake — and impress your friends with your football knowledge while smugly berating them for committing the same sins. Hey, we won’t be the ones to tell them you didn’t have faith.
We’re going to assume you’d rather not need to whip out a purse or wallet before you can start watching. That is an option if money is burning a hole through your pants. DStv snagged a set of broadcasting rights for the tournament at the last minute, so customers already residing under the broadcaster’s Premium, Compact Plus, and Compact tiers can watch all of the games live and in HD.
The only other legal option also happens to be, without a doubt, the best option available: SABC+. Thanks to (another) late dealing with the Confederation of African Football, the country’s national broadcaster is showing all of 2024’s AFCON games entirely for free. Hell, you don’t even need to sign up — you can simply download the app (Android/iOS) or head to the website and get watching. Your TV might even have a TV app if you’re lucky.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, SABC+ trumps DStv in more ways than the free and painless entry. The service allows users to revisit already played games — though only through its web version. Open the mobile apps, and you’ll be hit with a pop-up that’ll direct you to where you need to be.
You’ve still got some time to catch up on the AFCON lore ahead of the first quarter-final match between Nigeria and Angola on Friday, 2 February. South Africa will be taking on Cape Verde at 10 PM on Saturday, 3 February.