New World Television, the official broadcast rights holder for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has named UK-based Ghanaian sports journalist George Addo Jnr as the lead English commentator.
Bringing with him a wealth of experience garnered from calling matches in major international tournaments, Addo Jnr will spearhead New World’s coverage of the continental showpiece in the Ivory Coast.
His role kicks off on-site as the primary commentator for the AFCON 2023 opening game between Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau. Joining him in the broadcast booth are New World’s Anthony Pla, ex-Cameroon international Sébastien Bassong, and former Togo captain Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor.
George Addo Jnr, a distinguished journalist who recently joined the BBC World Service from Ghana’s Multimedia Group, aims to bring significant experience to this role. His commentary expertise spans five previous AFCON tournaments, two European football championships, five UEFA Champions League campaigns, three FIFA World Cup tournaments, and seven Ghana Premier League seasons.
Recognized as one of Ghana’s premier English commentators by the venerable Mirror newspaper, Addo Jnr’s clear, distinct, and captivating commentary style on radio and TV has earned him three nominations for the PAV Ansah Communications Award under the prestigious EMY Africa Awards scheme.
Having been accredited to cover the UEFA Champions League finals in 2016, 2017, and 2018, Addo Jnr has demonstrated his global expertise in the field. In 2021, he made history by delivering commentary on the Euros final between England and Italy from Wembley for Ghana’s Joy FM. During the same tournament, he provided television commentary for Joy Prime, which held exclusive TV rights to the games.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Addo Jnr stated, “I am thrilled at the opportunity to join this excellent group of professionals to showcase the AFCON, which is one of the world’s most exciting competitions, to the global audience. I look forward to a fantastic month of colorful stories, goals, and the making of legends.”
As part of the agreement, Addo Jnr will lead New World’s English-language commentary team from the opening match through the final, collaborating with experienced analysts to provide insightful match analysis and share his passion for African soccer with fans worldwide.
New World TV will also offer commentary for all 52 AFCON matches in six African languages: Wolof, Bambara, Lingala, Ewe, Swahili, and Hausa.
The 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off in Abidjan on Saturday, January 13, and will run until February 11, 2024.
