The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off on December 21st in a nearly full Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with over 60,000 spectators. Since then, matches have been far from sold out.

Just over 60,000 fans filled the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat for the opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Comoros. But since then, stadium attendance has plummeted. One of the most striking examples was the Egypt-Zimbabwe match the following day. In Agadir, the stadium was practically empty before suddenly filling up after the gates of the Moroccan venue were opened to all spectators.

A noble initiative that masks a much darker truth. Since the start of the competition, ticket resale has been a scourge that has yet to be contained and is accompanied by its share of scams. On social media, and particularly Facebook, groups dedicated to the sale and exchange of tickets bring together thousands of people, as revealed by the Moroccan daily newspaper Le Matin.

Seats offered at more than ten times the price

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has established strict rules regarding ticket sales for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. It limits purchases to a maximum of four tickets and prohibits any resale except through its official channels. However, some manage to buy up large quantities of these coveted tickets and readily offer them for resale at exorbitant prices.

Tickets that initially cost 100 or 400 dirhams (around 37 euros) are sometimes offered for 5,000 dirhams (just over 465 euros). In the popular fervor surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations, some people are being scammed. A ticket that is passed from hand to hand often becomes unusable, and only the final transfer is valid and grants access to the stadium. Sometimes, the scam is even more sophisticated, bordering on dangerous: "A reseller asked me for my ID, and in a moment of trust, I gave it to him. A few moments later, I found my money gone and my ID card used without my knowledge. It was circulating in Facebook groups, being used to scam other fans," Le Matin reports, citing a fan's testimony on social media.

Fan ID, the tool that's turning off the fans

To secure a ticket, CAF has implemented a system to ensure a secure process. "The FAN ID is an identification number issued by the YALLA platform and is required to obtain your ticket," reads the website of the Confederation of African Football. Registration is quite simple and requires only a few basic details. The only difference is that it is registered to a specific person. And some foreign or occasional fans are hesitant to buy a last-minute ticket. Le Matin reports that an Ivorian supporter believes he and other fans are discouraged by a system they consider inflexible. This benefits the black market, which doesn't bother with these procedures.

These factors may explain the low attendance at stadiums since the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is attempting to raise awareness by reminding fans that any unauthorized resale will result in ticket cancellation and may lead to legal action. Furthermore, arrests have already been made. This is clearly not yet enough to reassure supporters and fill Moroccan stadiums.