It appears Netflix is making its first major play into African football.
In an official post that has since been deleted, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) announced a partnership with the streaming giant to broadcast a Daily Highlights show for the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
While the announcement was abruptly removed from CAF’s website—likely indicating it was published prematurely—the details of the deal point to a significant shift in how the tournament is distributed.
Key takeaways
- The deal: Netflix has reportedly secured rights for an exclusive “AFCON Daily Show” in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- The content: The show features daily highlights, lifestyle, and cultural moments from the tournament in Morocco.
- First of its kind: This marks CAF’s first collaboration with a global streaming platform like Netflix.
- Developing: CAF removed the announcement post shortly after publication, suggesting final details are still being ironed out.
The ‘AFCON Daily Show’
Before the post was taken down, the announcement detailed a new ‘AFCON Daily Show’ available to Netflix subscribers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Unlike live match broadcasts, which are held by traditional partners like New World TV and SuperSport, this Netflix production focuses on a curated experience. The show is designed to capture not just the football action, but the “lifestyle and cultural appeal” of the tournament.
Contrary to early social media speculation about a full AFCON documentary or behind-the-scenes film, the official agreement focuses on a daily highlights show. According to CAF, the Netflix-licensed program:
- Delivers daily match highlights from AFCON Morocco 2025
- Is available exclusively to Netflix subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Represents a new distribution channel outside traditional broadcasters and pay-TV partners
In the now-deleted statement, CAF described the move as a strategy to position African football as a “globally attractive product,” leveraging Netflix’s massive reach to tap into audiences that might not watch traditional linear TV.
That distinction matters. This is not a live-streaming deal, nor a replacement for existing broadcast rights. Instead, Netflix becomes a secondary distribution layer, optimized for on-demand, mobile-first, and younger streaming audiences.
A strategic win for CAF’s distribution ambitions
CAF has been increasingly vocal about reframing African football as a globally attractive entertainment product, not just a regional sporting event. This Netflix partnership fits neatly into that broader strategy.
AFCON 2025 in Morocco is already being described by CAF as the most successful edition ever, reportedly reaching audiences in over 180 territories and surpassing engagement records set during AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire.
By adding Netflix into the mix, CAF gains:
- Access to a massive built-in audience
- A platform that excels at algorithmic discovery
- Stronger positioning for future digital-first partnerships
Just as importantly, Netflix’s involvement signals growing confidence from global platforms in African-produced and African-centric sports content.
Why was it deleted?
It is not uncommon for major partnerships to hit a snag over press release wording or timing.
Given the complex web of broadcasting rights surrounding AFCON—with exclusive rights holders in various territories—it is highly possible the announcement was flagged for conflicting with existing contracts or was simply scheduled for release before all parties had signed off.
However, the specificity of the announcement (citing the “Morocco 2025” edition and “Sub-Saharan Africa” availability) suggests the deal is done, and we are merely waiting for the official green light to be switched back on.
Even with the announcement currently offline, this is a massive development.
We have long waited for Netflix to dip its toes into African sports. While this isn’t live streaming of matches, a “Drive to Survive” style highlights package is a smart entry point. It acknowledges that modern fans—especially the younger demographic—consume sports differently.
If this deal holds, it breaks the long-standing assumption that premium African football content is locked solely behind satellite TV subscriptions. We expect the announcement to go back online soon, hopefully with clarification on when the first episode drops.
