AFCON: Flooding on the pitch, drought in the stands

“The people’s competition” quickly became a trending phrase on social media following the opening of the gates at Agadir Stadium during the Egypt-Zimbabwe (2-1) match in the first round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The news spread rapidly online, receiving enthusiastic responses from fans of all participating nations, including those who had purchased tickets. Ticketing has long been a sensitive issue at AFCON tournaments, and this move helped create fuller, more vibrant stadiums, enhancing the atmosphere for television audiences.

Prices were set months in advance by the Confederation of African Football and remain fixed for each fixture. While high-profile matches, such as those featuring Morocco or Algeria, often sell out, others—especially daytime games—struggle to attract large crowds, with ticket costs directly influencing attendance. During the DR Congo-Benin (1-0) match in downtown Rabat, for example, many locals and passersby were given free tickets to fill the stands, including Category 2 physical tickets priced at 200 dirhams.

The decision to open gates or hand out complimentary tickets rests with local authorities, in accordance with the Confederation of African Football, and is often guided by security considerations. While the tournament has delivered on-field excitement, off-field celebrations have been severely disrupted by relentless rain. Fans, often unprepared for the sudden downpours, have struggled to enjoy the festivities, as Morocco faces a spell of unusually heavy rainfall expected to continue for several days.

Also, the weather has been relentless—torrential, in fact. During the Tunisia-Uganda match at Rabat Olympic Stadium, a thick curtain of water fell for over an hour, leaving the game barely playable. The heavy rain has been a recurring theme since the tournament began, with showers unlike anything seen at this time of year.

Even Morocco’s opening match against Comoros at the impressive Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was played under humid and rainy conditions, affecting both the players and the spectators. Despite a 2-0 victory for the Atlas Lions, fans rushed home immediately, driven not by lack of enthusiasm but by the need to escape the downpour.

Unfortunately, forecasts from Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology indicate that heavy rains will persist at least until Friday, coinciding with the second day of the competition. Fortunately, the quality of the host country’s pitches remains excellent, ensuring that the matches themselves can proceed without disruption and that the tournament’s celebrations, while challenged by the weather, are not entirely washed out.