Organizers at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco have begun allowing fans to enter for free after kickoff when stadiums are not full, a Confederation of African Football (CAF) source told Agence France-Presse (AFP). Officials later announced an attendance of 35,200 at the stadium, which has a capacity of more than 45,000. Similar scenes have played out across the opening days of the tournament, at times causing confusion over attendance figures. The CAF source said organizers, in coordination with African football’s governing body, were opening sections about 20 minutes into matches to allow fans waiting outside to enter without paying. CAF’s official ticketing platform on Thursday showed seats available for nearly all remaining group-stage matches, with prices starting at 100 dirhams ($10.96).

Source: The North Africa Journal December 26, 2025 12:22 UTC