President Kenyatta Secures Free-to-Air AFCON Viewership Rights for Kenyan State Owned Televisions

"The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity."

 - Lewis Grizzard

A photo showing President Uhuru Kenyatta handing over the National Flag to the Harambee Stars football team for the AFCON 2019 has brought so much excitement to football lovers across the country.

What it signifies was that the much anticipated AFCON 2019 will be aired on local television. Football lovers who do not own cable satellites would not have to queue at viewing centers to watch their stars in action.

The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta has helped the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) to acquire exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament which will be held in Cairo, Egypt from June 21 to July 19.

The Africa Cup of Nations is a continental football tournament held every two years, where top football teams in the country battle it out on the field of play for the revered crown of ‘African Champions’.

A record 24 teams will participate in this year's event.

As part of the agreement between the organizers and the State broadcasting corporation, the stations will air all the matches played by Kenya’s Harambee Stars, the semi-finals and the final match.

As part of the agreement, the tournaments will also be broadcast live on State radio.

“The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) has acquired exclusive terrestrial free-to-air broadcast rights for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which kicks off on June 21 to July 19 in Cairo, Egypt,” read part of Government’s statement.

The Kenyan national senior football team, the Harambee Stars qualified for the 2019 African Cup of Nations after a 15-year absence from the mundial.

The team was camped in France to enable adequate preparation for the tournament.

They played their first test match against Madagascar in an international friendly on June 7 in Paris.

The Sebastian Migne–led team edged out Madagascar 1-0.

Victor Wanyama scored the only goal from a second-half penalty after Patrick Matasi had denied Madagascar a goal from a penalty.

Madagascar are one of the teams that will participate in the tournament for the first time and are expected to give Stars a run for their money.

Another friendly match is scheduled for June 15 against Democratic Republic of Congo in Spain.

All African countries should follow suit, don’t you think?

Header Image Credit: Courtesy