Algerian commentator Hafiz Draji has ignited a fresh controversy by addressing the difficulties faced by Algerians in purchasing tickets for their national team’s matches during the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
As the Algerian national team prepares for their quarter-final clash against Nigeria next Saturday, Draji expressed his concerns via a post on “X” on Thursday. He noted, “Tickets for the match between the Algerian team and Nigeria are unavailable on the ticket reservation platform, which has been the case for all four of Algeria’s matches. Nevertheless, the stands have not been filled, and this will undoubtedly recur unless the organizing committee within CAF takes measures to enable Algerians to purchase their tickets.”
Draji’s remarks come after he had previously stirred debate at the tournament’s outset by commenting on the sparse attendance at matches, with the exception of the opening game featuring the Moroccan team, which attracted approximately 60,000 spectators, and to a lesser extent, the match between Egypt and Zimbabwe.
After the first round of the group stage, he remarked, “The major controversy centers around the matches of the Algerian team, especially with news suggesting that all tickets had sold out long ago. Recently, a reselling site was opened due to the increased demand from Algerian fans who traveled to Rabat but found no tickets available.”
Concerns Over Ticket Sales
Draji stated further, “I do not wish to jump to conclusions, and we will wait for the date of the Algerian team’s match to see the true attendance numbers in the stands and to verify whether all tickets have indeed been sold, as declared by the president of the African Football Confederation, Patrice Motsepe.”
