As the 2026 FIFA World Cup captures global attention, SuperSport, a subsidiary of MultiChoice Canal+, is set to transform morning television with the launch of The Morning Cup.
SuperSport Senior Manager for Communications and Partnerships, Sibusiso Mjikeliso, announced the development in a statement released on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to Mjikeliso, the programme will premiere on Thursday, delivering a daily live broadcast that blends football, culture, music, entertainment and lively conversation.
He said the show would be hosted by SuperSport presenters Lwazi Ziqubu and Fiso Mazibuko, supported by a diverse panel of pan-African co-hosts.
“They will bring exceptional star power to the desk, including legendary South African television and radio personality Phat Joe.
“Nigerian comedy star Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth, award-winning Kenyan actress Sarah Hassan, and Egyptian-Jamaican sports presenter Sirayah Shiraz will also feature,” Mjikeliso said.
Phat Joe described his return to SuperSport as an exciting opportunity to be part of a unique continental project.
“Any time SuperSport calls you to do a show for a billion people, you answer.
“But when it is a brand-new programme with a fresh format and a pan-African cast, it becomes something truly special.
“I’m thrilled to be back on television. I never left TV; I simply took a strategic pause,” he said.
The Morning Cup is designed to give viewers a family-style experience, combining entertainment and football throughout the tournament.
The programme will also offer multiple replay windows during the day, with on-demand access available on DStv Stream, GOtv and GOtv Stream.
Ahead of the launch, the cast participated in a cross-continental radio campaign to introduce the show to audiences.
Phat Joe appeared on Anele’s breakfast programme on 947 in South Africa, while Basketmouth featured on Brila FM in Nigeria.
Speaking about his fellow presenters, Joe jokingly said the production team had assembled a colourful cast.
He joked: “Chemistry? What chemistry? I think the producers made a mistake. I’m already asking them to recast some positions.
“Sarah Hassan is a maths enthusiast. She studied actuarial science and will probably spend her time predicting our futures.
“Basketmouth may try to revive his rap career for the umpteenth time. The only cast member I truly like is Sirayah. The producers needed someone to make me look taller.”
Award-winning Kenyan actress and former television host Sarah Hassan welcomed the opportunity to join the programme.
“I am incredibly excited. It is a privilege to work alongside Joe and the wider pan-African team.
“The show will bring perspectives from across Africa because the hosts represent different parts of the continent.
“It is a genuinely African morning programme,” Hassan said, adding that the experience had already exceeded her expectations.
“This journey has been wonderful and I honestly do not want it to end. To host a programme of this scale at such an exciting time for football is extraordinary. I am truly speechless,” she said.
Hassan also revealed her support for South Africa’s national team during the tournament.
“My beloved Kenya would always be my first choice if they were competing. In their absence, I am fully behind Bafana Bafana,” she said.
Set within a warm and familiar studio environment, The Morning Cup aims to reflect the shared experiences and emotions that define the World Cup.
Viewers can expect appearances by international football legends, daily analysis, round-table discussions and expert opinions.
The programme will also feature comedy segments, fashion features and reports from locations across Africa and the United States.
Joe said engaging with football icons was one of the highlights of the project. “Interviewing football legends is not work; it is a front-row seat to greatness.
“I cannot wait to add more fun to what is already one of the most exciting moments of our lifetime,” he said.
Fans can watch The Morning Cup daily from Wednesday between 7.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m. CAT on SuperSport’s FIFA World Cup Central channel.
The programme will air on DStv Channel 203 and DStv Channel 223 in Nigeria.
