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Organisers of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco are allowing fans to enter for free after kick-off in matches where stadiums are not full, a Confederation of African Football (CAF) source told AFP.
During Wednesday’s Group F clash between Cameroon and Gabon in Agadir, the match began with nearly empty stands. However, the stadium gradually filled during the first half, despite persistent rain. Similar scenes have been reported at several matches during the opening days of the competition, sometimes even causing confusion over official attendance figures.
At Tuesday’s Group D match between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Benin at Rabat’s Al Medina Stadium, the crowd grew significantly over the course of the game. Attendance was initially announced as 6,703 before being later corrected to 13,073.
A CAF source said that organisers, in coordination with African football’s governing body, were allowing fans outside the stadium to enter free of charge around 20 minutes into matches.
Filling stadiums is a key priority for the Cup of Nations organisers in Morocco, as the success of this tournament contributes to the country’s preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
CAF’s official ticketing platform on Thursday showed that seats remained available for almost all remaining group matches, with prices starting at 100 dirhams ($10.96).
