The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) commenced in Ivory Coast on 13 January, with tickets going on sale online, marking a first in the competition's history.
The tournament is now set to come to a climax this weekend, as South Africa prepare to take on DR Congo in the third/fourth place game on Saturday, February 10, while Nigeria will also face hosts Ivory Coast in the final the following day.
The initial batch of the AFCON 2024 tickets swiftly sold out within an hour ahead of the opening day of the tournament.
Public sales commenced as far back as on Monday, November 13, enabling the purchase of tickets for the group stage, limited to a maximum of six tickets per buyer.
This year's competition is officially named AFCON 2023 since it was initially scheduled to take place last year but was postponed until January-February 2024.
AFCON 2024 Stadiums:
- Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan (60,000 seats)
- Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan (33,000 seats)
- Stade de la Paix, Bouaké (40,000 seats)
- Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo (20,000 seats)
- Laurent Pokou Stadium, San-Pédro (20,000 seats)
- Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro (20,000 seats)
AFCON 2024 ticket prices
Ticket prices vary across three categories: 1,000 to 5,000 FCFA ($1.60 to $8.00 US dollars) for category three, 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA ($8.00 to $16.00 US dollars) for category two, and 10,000 to 15,000 FCFA ($16.00 to $24.00 US dollars) for category one.
Notably, the opening match is offered at the highest rate (5,000, 10,000, or 15,000 FCFA, equivalent to $8.00, $16.00, or $24.00 US dollars based on the category). There is a limit of 6 tickets per buyer.
Some matches are presented in a “double-match” format, where two games take place on the same day in the same stadium without an increase in the ticket price.
However, the ticket prices for the knockout phase matches are yet to be disclosed. Although a supposed price list was recently circulating on social media, the local organizing committee (LOC) debunked it.
Where to purchase AFCON 2024 tickets?
Online Sale
Tickets for AFCON 2023 are available for purchase online through the Confederation of African Football (CAF) platform at can2023-tickets.com. 15% of tickets for each match, including those for the opening match, and 25% of group stage tickets are available online.
This platform offers various advantages, especially for international supporters, such as ease of access, secure transactions, and the opportunity to plan travel in advance.
The first sales phase on November 11 and 12 was exclusively for VISA cardholders, an official partner of CAF, before being open to the general public from the 13th.
Before purchasing tickets, each supporter must wait in a virtual queue, usually of short duration. This approach ensures a fair ticket distribution and offers African football fans an equal chance to participate in this iconic event.
Physical sale
Apart from online sales, tickets will also be available at various physical sales points in Ivory Coast starting from 13 December. According to RFI, these points will likely include municipal offices and post offices. It's essential to note that no tickets will be sold at the stadium on match days.
This strategy aims to maximize stadium occupancy, avoiding issues encountered in previous editions in Egypt (2019) and Cameroon (2021), where numerous matches were played in near-empty stadiums due to various factors, including security concerns and pandemic-related health protocols.
In summary, this hybrid ticketing approach, combining online and physical sales, is designed to enhance ticket accessibility and ensure an optimal experience for all fans looking forward to attending the Africa Cup of Nations.
All set for AFCON 2024 final
Meanwhile, the final of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place on Sunday, February 11, 2024, with Nigeria facing hosts Ivory Coast in a repeat their Group A clash earlier in the tournament, which the Super Eagles won 1-0.
Tickets for the AFCON 2024 final
The Africa Cup of Nations 2024 final will take place on 11 February, at 8:00 PM at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium (60,000 seats) in Abidjan. Tickets are already on sale on CAF's website and at the various designated centers.
