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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has authorized free entry to stadiums hosting selected matches of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, currently underway in Morocco. According to sources within the continental body cited by AFP, this measure allows organizers to boost attendance at fixtures drawing fewer spectators. In line with security and access control requirements, free entry is permitted around 20 minutes after kick-off.
Although no prior official announcement was made, the option was tested during the opening group-stage matches of AFCON 2025. Last Monday, the Egypt–Zimbabwe (2–1) match at the Agadir stadium was played with open access, enabling fans and local residents to enter freely and gradually fill largely empty stands. The following day, a similar approach was applied at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, where free tickets were distributed for the DR Congo–Benin (1–0) match due to the high number of vacant seats.
The same method was repeated during the Algeria–Sudan (3–0) match at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. On the same day, the Cameroon–Gabon (1–0) fixture in Agadir also kicked off in front of nearly empty stands, before free access eventually drew 35,200 spectators out of a 45,000-seat capacity.
This measure partially addresses a recurring challenge faced by AFCON host nations: how to ensure full stadiums for international and continental matches. Beyond its logistical implications, such as crowd management and ticket distribution, it also offers an alternative to black-market ticket resales, while improving the atmosphere inside the venues.
