CANAL+ extends PSL broadcast partnership

The CANAL+ Group has announced the extension of its partnership with the National Soccer League (NSL) for the broadcast rights to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) on SuperSport across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The deal reinforces the group’s commitment to investing in African sport and local content following its acquisition of MultiChoice. newsindata.org

A LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO LOCAL PSL FOOTBALL

The renewed agreement covers the Betway Premiership, MTN8, Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup and Motsepe Foundation Championship, competitions that continue to attract some of the largest audiences on DStv.

PSL and Orlando Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza welcomed the extension, saying the partnership has played a significant role in growing the game and strengthening South African football clubs over the years.

“Together, the PSL and SuperSport have worked to grow the game, strengthen our clubs and bring South African football to audiences across the continent,” said Khoza.

INVESTING IN AFRICAN CONTENT

The announcement comes shortly after CANAL+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice. It also confirmed its listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

CANAL+ CEO Maxime Saada and CANAL+ Africa CEO and MultiChoice CEO David Mignot said the extension reflects the group’s commitment to investing in premium African sports and entertainment content.

“The extension of our partnership with the PSL is an important moment for CANAL+ following our acquisition of MultiChoice Group last year,” they said in a joint statement.

The companies added that the competitiveness of the recently concluded Betway Premiership season, which was decided on the final matchday, highlights the growing strength and appeal of South African club football.

The renewed agreement will also support continued investment in production, innovation, storytelling and fan engagement. It ensures PSL supporters across the continent continue to receive comprehensive coverage of the country’s premier football competitions.

IS THERE ANTHING YOU WISH WOULD CHANGE IN THE PSL?

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Bafana Bafana are back in the World Cup after a 16-year wait. Here’s everything you need to know including key trivia, danger men, fixtures and more.

Mexico vs Bafana World Cup opener key details

Mexico and South Africa will kick the 2026 World Cup off at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Incidentally, these sides also played the first match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the first showpiece of its kind hosted on African soil. Co-hosts Mexico, ranked 15th in the world by FIFA, will be eager to get their campaign off to a winning start against a Bafana Bafana side ranked 60th best on the planet. Mexico vs South Africa kicks off on Thursday, 11 June at 21:00 CAT from Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca.

Likely Bafana starting XI vs Mexico

Williams; Mudau, Ndamane, Mbokazi, Kabini; Mokoena, Mbatha; Appollis, Mofokeng, Moremi; Foster.

Bafana squad trivia

Nineteen of the 26-man squad named by Hugo Broos play in the Betway Premiership. Ex-Orlando Pirates star Lyle Foster is the only British-based player, recently relegated from the Premier League with Burnley. Uncapped 22-year-old defender Olwethu Makhanya is on the books of United States MLS side Philadelphia Union. Bradley Cross, also uncapped, was previously on the books of Newcastle United. However, the 24-year-old never played a senior game for the Magpies. Bafana Bafana’s squad contains eight players from the newly crowned champions, Orlando Pirates, and nine from Sundowns.

Full 2026 World Cup squad

Ronwen Williams (Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates).

Defenders

Khuliso Mudau (Sundowns), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane), Khulumani Ndamane (Sundowns), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Pirates), Ime Okon (Hannover 96), Aubrey Modiba (Sundowns), Samukelo Kabini (Molde), Bradley Cross (Kaizer Chiefs), Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union), Kamogelo Sebelebele (Pirates), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire).

Midfielders

Teboho Mokoena (Sundowns), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela), Thalente Mbatha (Pirates), Jayden Adams (Sundowns).

Attackers

Lyle Foster (Burnley), Themba Zwane, Iqraam Rayners, Thapelo Maseko (all Sundowns), Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa, Tshepang Moremi (all Pirates).

South Africa’s 2026 World Cup fixtures

• Thu, 11 June: Mexico vs South Africa (Mexico City), kickoff 21:00 CAT
• Thu, 18 June: The Czech Republic vs South Africa (Atlanta), kickoff 18:00 CAT
• Thu, 25 June: South Africa vs South Korea (Monterrey), kickoff 03:00 CAT

Broos bows out

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has announced that he’ll retire after the finals. The 74-year-old Belgian has won plenty of goodwill with Bafana fans in recent years, taking South Africa to the 2023 AFCON semi-finals, eventually finishing third, and now qualifying them for their first World Cup in 16 years. Broos is no stranger to success, having won the AFCON title with Cameroon in 2017 and scooped five major honours with top-tier Belgian sides during his career.

Who are Bafana’s key operators?

Everything goes through Mamelodi Sundowns midfield metronome Teboho Mokoena. Around him, Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos will also lean on the precocious talents of 21-year-old Orlando Pirates sensation Relebohile Mofokeng. USA-based defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is still only 20 but is already being earmarked as a future Bafana skipper. Burnley striker Lyle Foster will lead the line with his relentless pressing, channel-running and smart link-up play, perhaps with a point to prove after suffering relegation from the Premier League with the Clarets.

Orlando Pirates have been monitoring the Ndlovu for months and are now on the verge of securing his signature.

Ndlovu emerged as one of the standout performers for Golden Arrows during the 2025/26 campaign, contributing four goals and eight assists in 31 appearances.

SIYANDA NDLOVU SET FOR ORLANDO PIRATES MOVE

According to the Buccaneers insider Innocent Mkhize, Ndlovu and his reprensatives met the Soweto giants for a conclusive meeting last weekend.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder earned recognition for his creativity, dribbling ability and knack for creating chances in the final third.

Orlando Pirates view the player as someone capable of replacing Relebohile Mofokeng, who is all but certain moving abroad.

Even if Mofokeng unexectedly stays, Ndlovu will add further quality and competition to their attacking options, with the club continuing to reshape its squad ahead of next season.

WHO IS SIYANDA NDLOVU?

Ndlovu has emerged as one of the most exciting young attacking talents in South African football. Affectionately known as “Skhwishi”, he is primarily a winger but possesses the versatility and football intelligence to operate centrally as a number 10, a trait that makes him one of the closest profiles to Mofokeng currently available in the local market.

Born in Dannhauser, KwaZulu-Natal, Ndlovu’s rise has been built on years of progression through South Africa’s development structures. He featured in the SAB League with Happy Crown FC, the ABC Motsepe League with Newcastle All Stars and later the DStv Diski Challenge with Golden Arrows, experiencing every major developmental level in the country apart from the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

His performances in the Arrows youth ranks earned him promotion to the senior side during the 2023/24 season, and he has not looked back since.

Blessed with explosive acceleration, close control and an eye for a decisive pass, Ndlovu has developed into one of the club’s most influential attacking players. While he is comfortable on either flank, his ability to drift into central areas and create chances has made him particularly effective in advanced midfield roles.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS EXPECTED MOVE TO ORLANDO PIRATES?

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NAIROBI, Kenya, June 3, 2026 – Having clinched his second career title, Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor has baptised the K’Ogalo fanbase as the ‘most demanding’ he has worked under.

The Ghanaian says defeat is a word that does not exist in the fans’ vocabulary, admitting he has had to work extra hard to gratify their demands.

“I think with Gor Mahia it’s very demanding…It’s positive but it can be seen as crazy. They don’t understand defeat and how you are defeated. Sometimes you need to read meanings behind the scenes, why it happened this way,” the 48-year-old admitted.

The former Ghana national team player previously won silverware with Asante Kotoko, specifically the NC Special Competition in 2019.

Akonnor joined K’Ogalo at the start of the season, replacing Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno who had been sent packing with his entire technical bench after a trophyless season in 2024/25.

Due to the foregoing, it was always going to be a mountain to climb for Akonnor as far as satisfying the vociferous K’Ogalo faithful, starved of glory the season before.

His reign began with a 1-0 loss to Bidco United in September before he came to grips with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League, going on a eight-match unbeaten run.

A subsequent 4-1 thrashing by minnows APS Bomet attracted murmurs of discontent from the fans, many of who pointed out Akonnor’s poor game management.

This was further exacerbated by a 1-0 loss to arch-rivals AFC Leopards in their next match, followed by a 1-1 draw to Bandari in Mombasa.

Thankfully, ‘Otete’ — as he is fondly referred to by Kenyans — steadied the ship albeit there were moments when this lovehate relationships with the fans came to the fore.

An FKF Cup elimination at the hands of lower tier side BB Bread further attracted the ire of the fans, some calling for his head.

Akonnor says through the losses, he has acquired lessons to spur the team forward.

“we’ve also learnt a lot, especially when we lost to Bomet. Our first match that we lost was a wake-up call. But the fact that we lost against Bomet was a way where we can look at our weaknesses and our strengths,” he explained.

The former Wolfsburg player thanked K’Ogalo fans for pressuring and pushing them forward, to become better in every game.

As he looks forward to the next season, the gaffer is hoping for more of the same fanatic support.

“The support here is massive and fans are very passionate about the things they do. So we have managed in a very positive way to do it. But it was not just us alone. A lot of people are involved and we are grateful, we are thankful for the support they gave us. But we look forward to the future and we know the future is very challenging,” Akonnor said.

Gor will be returning to the Caf Champions League, with the hope of reaching the group stages for the first time in their history.

If they are to achieve the ‘mission impossible’, the role of the 12th man — the fans — has never been more profound.

The post Why Gor coach Akonnor is breathing sigh of relief after winning Premier League title appeared first on Capital Sports.

Invité de la matinale de la radio France Inter à une semaine du début de la Coupe du monde, la sélectionneur tricolore Didier Deschamps a abordé cette dernière compétition à la tête des Bleus.

Dans quelques jours, le staff de Didier Deschamps et les 26 joueurs de l’équipe de France s’envoleront pour les Etats-Unis et Boston pour démarrer la Coupe du monde. Les Français sont placés dans le groupe I avec le Sénégal, la Norvège et l’Irak. Avant de rejoindre la compétition, Didier Deschamps, sélectionneur de l’équipe de France, s’est exprimé, ce mercredi, à Clairefontaine dans un entretien diffusé sur France Inter. Après 14 ans à la tête de la sélection, le technicien va passer la main à l’issue de ce Mondial. Champion du monde comme joueur en 1998, Didier Deschamps a remporté le Mondial comme entraîneur en 2018, et terminé finaliste en 2022 contre l’Argentine. « Si je suis là, c’est parce que j’ai l’énergie, j’ai tout ce qu’il faut pour aller le plus haut possible, bien évidemment. », a indiqué Deschamps à la radio publique.

Deschamps réaffirme avoir de l’ambition, mais aussi de l’humilité

Par ailleurs, il a confié ce qu’il attend des joueurs retenus pour représenter le maillot bleu. Pour lui, chaque élément « a des devoirs, de par ce que représente ce maillot, et ce maillot, il est au-dessus de tout. », a-t-il ajouté. Pour son quatrième Mondial à la tête des Bleus, Deschamps souligne l’état d’esprit attendu. « l’ambition, il faut l’avoir, mais il faut avoir aussi l’humilité nécessaire », a conclu le patron des Bleus.

The post Coupe du monde 2026 : Didier Deschamps affiche ses ambitions avec les Bleus appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.