ESPN Africa is preparing for one of the biggest sporting weekends of the year, delivering a thrilling schedule packed with football finals, promotion battles and elite basketball action across ESPN, ESPN2 and Disney+ in South Africa.
From 22 to 24 May, sports fans across the continent can expect nonstop entertainment as some of the world’s biggest clubs and athletes compete for silverware and continental glory.
Europe’s Elite Women’s Clubs Face Off in Oslo
One of the headline events of the weekend arrives on Saturday 23 May when Spanish giants FC Barcelona Femení clash with French powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais Féminin in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final.
The highly anticipated encounter will take place at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 CAT. The final marks the first time Norway hosts the prestigious women’s football showcase, adding another historic layer to an already blockbuster fixture.
ESPN continues to strengthen its commitment to women’s sport by broadcasting the competition exclusively across sub-Saharan Africa, giving fans access to one of the most competitive tournaments in global football.
Wembley Awaits in the “Richest Game in Football”
Earlier on Saturday, attention shifts to England for the EFL Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium in London.
Often referred to as the “richest game in football,” the fixture determines which club earns promotion to the English Premier League alongside the top two teams from the regular season.
Hull City A.F.C. and Middlesbrough F.C. are both chasing a coveted place in the Premiership and will battle under the iconic Wembley arch in a match expected to deliver drama from start to finish.
Kickoff is scheduled for 16:30 CAT.
German Giants Battle for DFB-Pokal Glory
Football fans can close off the weekend with another major European final on Sunday 24 May as FC Bayern Munich take on VfB Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal Final.
The match will be played at Berlin’s Olympiastadion from 20:00 CAT, with Stuttgart aiming to defend the title they secured in 2025 after defeating Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in last year’s final.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, will look to add another domestic trophy to their illustrious history in what promises to be a fiercely contested showdown between two German heavyweights.
Africa’s Best Basketball Teams Head to Kigali
Basketball also takes centre stage this weekend as the Basketball Africa League Finals get underway in Kigali, Rwanda from 22 to 31 May.
Hosted at the BK Arena, the BAL Finals will feature the continent’s top men’s basketball clubs battling for African supremacy and a place at the 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
The tournament continues to elevate African basketball on the global stage and remains one of the continent’s premier sporting showcases.
ESPN Africa Promises Unmissable Action
Kyle de Klerk, Director of Sports at The Walt Disney Company Africa, said the upcoming schedule highlights ESPN Africa’s ongoing commitment to bringing premium sporting content to viewers across the continent.
He noted that the weekend offers an exceptional mix of football finals, promotion battles and elite basketball competition, ensuring fans have access to some of the most exciting sporting moments of the year.
For more information and programming updates, fans can visit or follow ESPN Africa on social media.
