Empty stadium then packed to the rafters: how Morocco turned the situation around in Agadir

The start of the evening on Monday, December 22nd, was feared to paint a rather sad picture for the competition. At kickoff, the sparse stands were an eyesore, reminiscent of the goalless draw earlier in the day between Mali and Zambia in Casablanca, which had also been played in front of a sparse crowd. Aware of the negative impact of these empty seats on the image of the host country, the authorities made a radical decision while the match was already underway: to offer free access to the stadium.

The information spread like wildfire in the city and on social media. Within minutes, a veritable human tide converged on the Adrar stadium. The change in atmosphere was complete, going from an embarrassing silence to the fervor of more than 30,000 supporters who came to witness the Pharaohs’ victory (2-1) and Mohamed Salah’s liberating goal at the end of the match.

This spontaneous initiative now raises the question of ticketing for the rest of the tournament. While the competition management has not yet detailed its strategy, Morocco could be tempted to repeat the operation to guarantee full stadiums and popular fervor worthy of the event. The answer could come as early as Tuesday, with four matches on the program, including the debuts of Senegal, Nigeria and Tunisia.