BBC planning extensive Africa Cup of Nations coverage
The broadcaster has disclosed its plans for in-depth coverage across radio, TV, online and mobile of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, which starts tomorrow (19 January). Reporters will be deployed in all five host cities – Johannesburg, Durban, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth and Rustenburg – to follow the progress of all 16 teams from the group stages through to the final.
BBC World Service will bring commentary to African listeners in English on the opening game between South Africa and Cape Verde at the National Stadium, with commentary on other key matches including the quarter finals, semi-final and final in English, French on BBC Afrique, and Kiswahili on BBC Swahili.
BBC reporters will be linking up with BBC World Service’s rebroadcasting partner stations across Africa to give expert analysis on the competition. Regular updates will be broadcast by BBC World News as well as the BBC’s TV programmes for Africa – Focus on Africa in English and BBC Swahili’s Dira Ya Dunia as well as BBC Arabic – on TV, radio and online.
Among other coverage, there will also be special reports about the contest on programmes including Sport Today, World Football, Focus On Africa, as well as on BBC Afrique, BBC Great Lakes, BBC Hausa, BBC Somali and BBC Swahili sports programmes.
BBC Global News sports editor for languages, David Stead, comments: “This is an exciting Cup of Nations for the BBC, and we are providing a great range of coverage across both our global English and language services. Not only do we have two new television programmes, Focus On Africa and Dira Ya Dunia, which will both have reporters in South Africa, it is also the first time we are sending a social-media producer to the tournament.
“With Zambia keen to show that last year’s victory was not a one-off event, and with Cape Verde and Ethiopia determined to make a good impression, this should be a great competition. Our huge audience in Nigeria should also love seeing the Super Eagles back in action.”