Organizers of the Africa Cup of Nations are reportedly allowing fans into stadiums for free after kick-off to combat low attendance at several group-stage matches.
Sources in Morocco confirmed that gates are being opened roughly 20 minutes into games to let waiting fans enter without tickets.
The strategy was visible during Wednesday’s Cameroon vs. Gabon match, where the crowd grew from a few thousand to over 35,000 despite heavy rain.
Similar late surges in attendance were noted in Rabat during the DR Congo vs. Benin fixture.
Filling stadiums is a high priority for Morocco as it uses the tournament to prove its readiness to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
While matches involving the host nation and Algeria are sold out, tickets for most other fixtures remain available starting at 100 dirhams ($10.96).
