Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Empty stadiums again mar Africa Cup of Nations
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 07 - 2019

The Africa Cup of Nations has been followed passionately all over continent, with fans gathering round televisions and in bars to watch the drama unfold.
Algeria's semifinal win over Nigeria prompted riotous celebrations both in the country itself and in France while there were street parties in Dakar after Senegal reached the final.
There were similar scenes in Cotonou after Benin reached the quarter-finals for the first time and Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina chartered a plane to take himself and several hundred fans to Egypt to watch his side on their debut in the finals.
Yet, apart from the games involving host nation Egypt, the tournament itself has been played in near-empty stadiums.
"I think this match deserved a full house – such a good match, going from one end to the other, five goals," Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr told Reuters after his side's 3-2 win over Cameroon at the picturesque Alexandria stadium.
It has been a similar story at recent AFCON tournaments in Ghana, Angola, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Some matches, especially those involving Senegal, Mali, Benin, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, have been brightened up by organized supporters' groups, usually including a band which has played throughout the game.
"The Senegal band is beautiful," former Zambia captain Kalusha Bwalya told Reuters.
Those groups, usually between 500 and 1,000 strong, are generally bankrolled by the respective federations, governments or sponsors but, for ordinary Africans, traveling to a Nations Cup tournament at their own expense is not viable.
Distances are huge and flights – the only practical way of crossing the continent – are prohibitively expensive.
"It is difficult to travel," Bwalya said.
In Angola in 2010, some fans and media could not even get visas to travel to the tournament with consulates saying they were unaware it was taking place.
The situation in Egypt was compounded by an attempt to imitate the ticketing system used by FIFA at the World Cup in Russia last year, with individual fan IDs and tickets issued after online registration.
But many fans complained that the system frequently crashed, that there were problems at distribution points and it excluded traditional fans, including hard-line "ultras" from domestic supporters' clubs who have a history of political dissent.
CAF slowly appears to be waking up to the problem and its president Ahmad Ahmad said on Friday that, although security was more important the having fans in the stadiums, he recognized that the fan ID had kept people away.
"We think it stopped the people from coming to the stadium so an effort was undertaken to change the fans ID," he said. "I hope it will not be the same at AFCON in 2012."
Bwalya agreed that something needed to be done.
"It is true, it is a cause for concern," he said.
"I've been to many AFCON tournaments and this is probably the best in terms of facilities but, unfortunately, if you look at Suez or Ismailia, we were crying out for more supporters."
He said the fan ID system needed more testing and should also provide a visa for fans. But he also praised Egypt for the number of families who watched their games.
"That was lovely to see because you see aunties, you see kids, young girls and young boys and that is a culture we have to develop," he said.
Surprisingly, coaches and players remained indifferent.
"The Algerian fans who have come here have been fantastic and that is what matters to me," said Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi.
South Africa coach Stuart Baxter said his players were inspired by the home crowd when they surprisingly beat Egypt 1-0 in the round of 16 but added: "I hope they don't need that sort of crowd to find inspiration."
His goalkeeper Ronwen Williams said there were two sides to the coin.
"It was a nice atmosphere against Egypt and the players enjoyed it," he said. "But if the stadium is quiet, it means my back four can hear me. It's nice both ways." — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.