The celebration of African football at the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (ACAN) has been marred by a ticket scandal, leaving a bitter taste for both local and foreign attendees, including disgruntled fans from Cameroon. The problematic distribution of entry tickets has triggered widespread difficulties and frustration among spectators.
As the tournament kicked off, reports emerged of ticket trafficking, casting a shadow over the smooth organization of AFCON 2023.
Despite several matches being officially announced as sold out, such as the opening match, the actual attendance figures have fallen short of expectations.
In a stadium with a capacity of 60 thousand, only 38 thousand were present for the opening match. The situation worsened on a subsequent match day, further fueling discontent.
The ticketing issue reached a boiling point before the Cameroon-Guinea Conakry encounter, with Cameroonians expressing their anger over the apparent mismanagement and difficulties faced in acquiring tickets.
Many supporters of the Indomitable Lions found themselves struggling to secure entry tickets from designated points of sale.
The match, initially declared as sold out, was far from the reality on the ground. The root cause of this chaos stems from the bulk purchase of tickets by certain individuals, who subsequently resold them at exorbitant prices.
Tickets originally valued at 2000 francs were reported to be resold for 20,000 francs CFA and beyond.
Cameroonian fans, having encountered difficulties in obtaining tickets at reasonable prices, have openly expressed their dismay at the situation.
The ticket scandal has prompted calls for an investigation and a reevaluation of the ticketing process, urging organizers to address the concerns promptly to ensure a more equitable and transparent distribution for the remaining matches of AFCON 2023.
Les supporters camerounais🇨🇲 et Guinéens🇬🇳 réclament les tickets au COCAN pour pour avoir accès au match qui les affronter ce soir!
Apparemment tous lés tickets ont été acheté par des personnes qui les revendent à 100.000F l’un 😳🙆🏽♂️
🎥 Miraldor Officiel🇨🇲#CAN2023 #AFCON pic.twitter.com/jGMq9IrQ8f
— ZouZoua🦇🦇🦇 (@Peupah_Zouzoua) January 15, 2024
