Barely five days to the commencement of the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, public interest has soared, leading to a total sell-out of Category 1 and Category 2 tickets for the opening Games on January 19, 2013 at the National Stadium in Johannesburg.
Group A double-header clash led by the host nation, South Africa, and tournament debutants, Cape Verde Islands, followed by Angola and Morocco will set the mood of the tournament.
According to information released by the organizers, the Categories 1 and 2 tickets represent the high end of tickets available to fans.
To date, 359,543 tickets have been sold or allocated, which represents about 42 per cent of the total capacity of the stadia.
CAF and the LOC remain optimistic that the numbers will continue to increase, with a specific focus made on matches of Group B in Port-Elisabeth and of Group D in Rustenburg, both having the lowest figures of tickets sold so far.
“We are happy with this development because it shows a marked change in South African spectator behaviour where usually the cheapest category tickets are sold out first,” said the LOC Chief Executive Officer, Mvuzo Mbebe.
“This seems to suggest that with the week on its final stretch before the start of the biggest sporting showpiece in the continent, Category 3 tickets will sell even faster than they have today as soon as we announce a comprehensive fan transport solution to and from the stadiums,” Mbebe added.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will play its last training match against Portuguese second division side, Farense in Faro, Portuguese, before departing Faro, for South Africa on Wednesday.
The match earlier scheduled for 12noon Portuguese time, which is 1pm Nigerian time, has been pushed forward a bit due to logistics.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles’ build up to the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa received a big boost on Monday as injured goalkeeper, Austin Ejide returned to action.
Fear of Ejide not regaining full fitness before the commencement of the AFCON had engulfed Nigerian camp for days now.
The former Gabros safe hand was stretched out during Nigeria’s game against Cape Verde after sustaining what officials called serious injury.
The Media officer of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya, in a telephone interview from Faro, Portugal, confirmed Ejide’s return to training.
“There are no injury worries in the team. Austin Ejide who sustained injury in the match against Cape Verde is back in training this morning (Monday),” he said.
The game will now kick off 2:30pm Portuguese time, which will be 3:30pm Nigerian time, due to some logistics.
Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, declared on Monday that the team on ground is well prepared for action at the 2013 Nations Cup and again urged Nigerians to line up behind the team in a bid to bring greater glory to the country at the tourney.
Trending
- Nigerian writer urges preservation of literary heritage amid writer shortage
- Health professionals brainstorm in Abuja, seek drug free society
- CAF announce dates for Champions League, Confederation Cup Finals
- Tayo Ayinde withdraws suit against Gani Adams, restates commitment to peace
- Those in corridors of power behind my ordeal – Segun Olatunji
- Remi Tinubu donates N1bn to aid fight against tuberculosis
- Police arrest two for alleged murder of former MD of Jigawa Housing Authority
- Man in police net for allegedly beating wife to death in Lagos