EUROPEAN sports company SportFive, a member of Lagardere Sports; has been awarded the broadcasting rights for the 2010 African Nations Cup finals in Luanda, Angola.

According to Reuters, the broadcasting rights are part of a long-term agreement between SportFive and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The French company holds exclusive marketing and media rights for the African Nations Cup until 2016.

The 2010 African Nations Cup will be played in four Angolan cities, namely; Luanda, Benguela, Lubango and Cabinda where stadiums, hotels and other facilities are being built.

Angola, which rivals Nigeria as sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest oil producer, has been rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.

Sport five has held television rights to some of the world’s most high-profile sporting events, including the UEFA’s Euro 2008 championship.

The company has granted free broadcasting rights to local media to broadcast the 2009 16th African Youth Championship set for January 18-February 1 in Kigali.

SportFive senior vice-president Idriss Akki said recently that local radio stations and television stations will be allowed to air and produce live matches charge free.

"It is a regulation from SportFive that media companies from hosting nations are given free broadcasting rights of the tournament.

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