Organisers of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco have begun allowing fans to enter stadiums for free after kick-off in matches where the stands are not full, a Confederation of African Football source has disclosed.
The CAF source told AFP that the decision was taken jointly by tournament organisers and African football’s governing body to address low turnout at some early matches of the competition.
According to the source, fans gathered outside stadiums are being allowed in about 20 minutes after kick-off once it becomes clear that seats are still available.
This development was evident on Wednesday during the Group F match between Cameroon and Gabon at the Adrar Stadium in Agadir. The game started in front of near-empty stands, but attendance increased steadily during the first half despite heavy rainfall.
The official attendance figure for the match was later announced as 35,200 in a stadium that can accommodate over 45,000 spectators.
Similar situations have been recorded at other games in the opening days of the tournament, leading to questions and revisions around crowd figures.
At Tuesday’s Group D clash between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Benin at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, the initial attendance was announced as 6,703 before it was later revised upward to 13,073 as more fans filled the stands during the match.
A CAF source explained the move, saying organisers were keen to improve the atmosphere inside stadiums.
“Organisers, in agreement with CAF, are opening the stands around 20 minutes into matches to allow supporters who are outside to enter without paying,” the source said.
Filling stadiums has become a major concern for AFCON organisers in Morocco, as the country is keen to deliver a successful tournament while preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Meanwhile, CAF’s official ticketing platform on Thursday still showed seats available for most remaining group matches, with ticket prices starting from 100 Moroccan dirhams, about 11 dollars.
Only a few fixtures were listed as sold out, including Morocco’s group games against Mali and Zambia, as well as Algeria’s matches against Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.
The move to allow free entry is expected to continue as organisers seek to improve attendance and create a lively atmosphere across venues during the tournament.
