Egypt was the only team to attract 70,000 fans in the just ended African Cup of Nations in the North African nation.
Apart from the Pharaohs, the stadia were generally empty with an average of 5,000 fans when other competitors clashed.
Journalists covering the competition were surprised at the lack of public enthusiasm, despite the presence of some of the biggest names in world football. It was surprising to see stars like Ryahd Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah to play in empty stadiums.
They are players who attract large crowds. Elsewhere in the world, fans run to see them play. The Egyptians had the opportunity to see these players on the field, yet they failed to go to the stadia as expected.
According to Egyptian local media sources, match attendance was also low due to the high ticket prices for the average Egyptian citizen. Again, the matches were scheduled during business hours.
Another hurdle was the administrative difficulties in acquiring an Egyptian visa. The procedures for acquiring ticket on the website of the AFCON Organizing Committee were also seen as complex.
During the FIFA World Cup last year, Russia allowed visa-free entry for fans and supporters if they obtained fan identification documents and showed proof of buying a match ticket.
By Gyedu Isaac Kwaku
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