Get ready for ESPN Africa’s electrifying sports schedule

CARY, NC - JUNE 23: Chicago Red Stars forward Jameese Joseph (8) passes forward during the NWSL match between the North Carolina Courage and the Chicago Red Stars on June 23, 2024 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire)

ESPN Africa is gearing up for an exciting viewing roaster that it hopes will go a long way towards warming all of us up this Winter. Comprising of a thrilling line-up of non-stop action, ESPN has a little bit of everything for every sports fanatic from American leagues and brand new sports documentaries to basketball, American football and now even cricket. ESPN basically has all of us sports fans across the continent covered, including DStv Access Subscribers, following ESPN’s expansion to the tier last year.

Cricket anyone?

Cricket fans are in for a treat as, from Friday 5 July, ESPN will be the home of the American Major League Cricket, the US domestic Twenty20 cricket league. The league officially started with MI New York v Seattle Orcas, live on 5 July at 21:30 (CAT), and is set to bowl audiences over with three games per week, leading up to the finals at the end of the month.

…Or perhaps sports documentaries are more of your thing?

A slate of all-new programming from ESPN Films’ Peabody and Academy Award®-winning 30 for 30 series will premiere across Africa from this month, providing unprecedented access to some of the most compelling stories in sports.

First up, 30 for 30 False Positive will premiere on Wednesday 3 July at 20:00, looking into the life of former track and field superstar Butch Reynolds and his relentless battle to clear his name following drug accusations, revealing systemic flaws within sports governance and the enduring impact of false accusations on an athlete’s legacy. 

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 29: Serena Williams of USA during day 1 of the US Open 2022, 4th Grand Slam event of the season at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2022 in Queens, New York City. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

30 for 30 I’m Just here for the Riot, which premieres on Wednesday 10 July at 19:00, chronicles the aftermath of the Canucks’ Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Boston Bruins, raising deeper questions about fandom, violence, and the shocking power of an angry crowd.

30 for 30 No Scope: The Story of FaZe Clan premieres on Sunday 21 July at 19:00 and gives a wide-ranging, eye-opening, and unsparing look at the popular e-sports team, and the remarkable series of ups and downs that have defined the individual gamers.

Tennis fans can look forward to the 8-part documentary In the Arena: Serena Williams, which is set to premiere on ESPN on Friday 21 July at 20:00. Williams dominated tennis for over two decades, winning 23 Grand Slams (singles) and changing the sport forever.

Also, on Wednesday 31 July at 20:00, 30 for 30 American Son captures a pivotal moment in sports history, chronicling the remarkable journey of Michael Chang, the tennis prodigy whose ascent to fame coincided with an unfathomable and unforgettable upset of Ivan Lendl at the 1989 French Open.

Wait, there’s more…

Basketball fans can settle in for a series of showdowns as the American Olympic Basketball (USAB) team lead up to the Paris Olympics. Mark your calendar for these exciting fixtures:

From Monday 29 July at 20:30, the series Sports Woman will premiere with one new episode each week. Showcasing inspiring stories of female athletes across all sports and cultures, this remarkable series recognises the elite, the inspiring and the diverse, through the untold motivational stories of endurance, and overcoming challenges and adversity. and well beyond.

Soccer fans across the continent will be delighted to see the new European football season kick off this August. Viewers can expect a record number of leagues on ESPN this season including the EFL (English Football League), Dutch Eredivise, the Scottish Premiership, Belgian Pro League, the German DFB Cup and continue to enjoy the NWSL (National Woman’s Soccer League)

And, as the weather warms, fans can look forward to the start of the NFL (National Football League) season on Friday 6September and the NBA (National Basketball Association) regular season on Tuesday 22 October.