(Ecofin Agency) – A year ago, the African Football Confederation signed an agreement with the Togolese New World TV which acquired the broadcasting rights to all its competitions over 3 years. The Togolese channel seems to have some difficulty honoring its commitments in this partnership.
In recent days, several media sources have mentioned an unpaid debt of 34 million euros from the Togolese group New World TV to the Confederation of African Football. A debt generated by the broadcast in 46 African countries of all CAF competitions, for which it obtained the unencrypted and paid rights in December 2023. According to the terms of the contract, around €70 million was to be paid to the umbrella organization of African football.
A sum of which half has already been paid according to the legal advisor of New World TV, Louis Biyao, consulted by Young Africa. “We missed deadlines and asked for a delay until December 12, but CAF is opposed to it” he would have said. At first glance, it would appear that the group does not have the means to honor its commitment within the agreed time frame. New World TV reached an agreement in October to secure USD 264 million in financing from Afreximbank.
For the moment, CAF has not communicated on the subject. If the problem is not resolved, the risk for the Togolese channel would be to lose part of its broadcasting rights, in the run-up to the 2025 African Cup of Nations scheduled to begin on Saturday, December 21.
-Servan Ahougnon
Senegal
