• Coverage spans 13 African markets, including group and knockout games

• Move strengthens Max it as pan-African digital content platform

Orange’s Middle East and Africa unit (OMEA) will broadcast 35 matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on its Max it super app, the company said on Monday. The tournament will be held in Morocco from Dec. 21, 2025, to Jan. 18, 2026.

The broadcasts will be available in 13 sub-Saharan African countries where Orange operates, including Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau.

Coverage will include all group-stage matches involving national teams from countries where Orange has operations, as well as a selection of knockout-stage fixtures. These will include the round of 16 and quarter-finals, one semi-final, the third-place playoff and the final. Pre-match and post-match programming is also planned.

“This year, with Max it, we are bringing our digital vision to life by offering a fully integrated experience,” said Yasser Shaker, chief executive of Orange Middle East and Africa. “This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting our customers’ passion for football and to creating shared moments across the continent.”

Orange said the agreement strengthens its digital offering for African football fans during AFCON. These include a dedicated fan platform providing real-time content, statistics, interviews and match highlights. The group is also deploying artificial intelligence tools, including a multilingual chatbot designed to answer fan questions. In addition, Orange plans to install connected fan zones in several African countries.

The initiative aligns with OMEA’s strategy to position Max it as a pan-African digital content platform focused on inclusion, innovation and the promotion of African talent.

Launched in November 2023, Max it combines telecommunications, financial services, entertainment and digital content. Users can access online games, music, television, videos, films and news through the app.

Orange had 178 million subscribers across 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East in the third quarter of 2025. Max it had 17.4 million active users across 14 markets at the end of December 2024. At launch, the company said it expected the platform to reach 45 million users by the end of 2025.

The group is betting on smartphones as the primary gateway to digital services in Africa and the Middle East, where adoption among connected customers is expected to reach 61% in 2025.

Isaac K. Kassouwi