The air crackles with anticipation in Côte d’Ivoire as two African football giants, Nigeria and the host nation, lock horns in a must-win clash today in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Both teams hold fond memories of their 2013 AFCON quarter-final encounter, where the Super Eagles soared to victory over the Les Elephants. But Thursday’s showdown holds a different kind of allure – a place in the knockout stages. The match will air on Sports Premium, channel 252 or 246, on StarTimes as well as on StarTimes-ON mobile app.
Nigeria, who stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening match, desperately need a win to reignite their title aspirations. The Equatoria Guineans, meanwhile, will look to build on their surprise result and upset the apple cart again against Guinea-Bissau at 3:00 PM, also on the Sports Premium channel.
Côte d’Ivoire, buoyed by a comfortable 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, enter the match as slight favourites. However, the pressure of playing on home turf and memories of that 2013 defeat hang heavy in the air.
Elsewhere in Group A, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau will battle it out in a bid to salvage their dwindling hopes of progressing. This match promises intriguing tactical tussles and desperate dives for glory.
Meanwhile, Group B boasts another heavyweight clash, with seven-time champions Egypt taking on Ghana at 9:00 PM.
Both teams stumbled in their opening matches, with Egypt drawing with Mozambique and Ghana losing to Cape Verde.
A win for either would reignite their campaign and throw the group wide open. The game will air on the Sports Premium and Sports Life channels at 9pm on StarTimes.
Adding to the AFCON excitement, StarTimes has partnered with leading fintech platform PalmPay to launch the “AFCON Football Fiesta” campaign. This month-long celebration will shower football fans with prizes and rewards, keeping the AFCON spirit alive throughout the tournament.
Every day during the AFCON, one lucky StarTimes customer who uses the PalmPay app to subscribe will win a free one-month subscription. But that’s not all! Numerous coupons and bonuses await customers who renew their subscriptions via the app, making AFCON 2024 even more thrilling.
