Sat Dec 27 02:02:59 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article rewrite:

Summary:

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is plagued by ticket issues. High demand for Moroccan and Algerian games has led to sell-outs, but empty seats are still visible in stadiums. Fans blame touts using multiple computers to buy tickets and resell them at inflated prices. Security measures like the “Yalla” app are making ticket transfers difficult. Other games have lower attendance, with some stadiums allowing free entry after kickoff to boost numbers. Heavy rain also contributes to low attendance in some matches.

News Article:

Africa Cup of Nations Marred by Ticket Chaos, Empty Seats Despite Sell-Outs

RABAT, MOROCCO – December 27, 2025 – The Africa Cup of Nations is facing criticism as frustrated fans struggle to secure tickets, despite officially sold-out matches. The situation is particularly acute for games involving host nation Morocco and neighboring Algeria, where high demand has led to widespread disappointment.

While official attendance figures suggest strong interest, noticeable empty seats at matches, including Morocco’s game against Mali at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, have sparked outrage.

“I tried to log in early, but the site was completely full,” complained Amin Mazraoui, a Moroccan supporter forced to watch the game from outside the stadium.

Many fans accuse touts of using sophisticated methods, including multiple computers, to purchase large quantities of tickets and resell them at exorbitant prices, sometimes ten times the original value. While a local app, Yalla, has been implemented to verify ticket ownership, it seems to have had limited success in curbing tout activity.

Meanwhile, attendance at other matches has been significantly lower. Algeria’s game against Sudan saw numerous empty seats despite being declared a sell-out. To combat this, some stadiums have resorted to allowing free entry after kickoff to increase attendance. Heavy rain has also been a deterrent for local fans.

The Confederation of African Football has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the ticket issues and low attendance rates.

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