The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is definitely living up to expectations thanks to the nationwide general mobilization the stadium attendance witnessing a massive improvement
So far, so good, the 2021 AFCON has produced the much-needed spark required of a competition of its standing with top quality matches.
Players and various teams have stepped up their game and are living up to the occasion as fans have equally come alive to the party.
Scenes of fans chanting the “ Ole, Ole, Ole” at the AhmadouAhidjo stadium in Yaounde during the 1-1 draw between Gabon and Ghana last week will remain iconic moments of the tournament when looking back.
One week before, the scenes were contrasting with empty stadiums greeting the players as they made their way onto the pitch.
The demons were immediately banished with a nationwide mobilization following an order from the Head of State to cut work and school hours in order to enable the public better prepare to go to the stadiums and cheer up the various teams.
The tone had already been set in Garoua wherea huge crowd turned out to watch the Super Eagles clash against the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Bafoussam followed the cue with the City Mayor providing free buses to transport the public to the stadium for matches last Friday.
Elite from the various divisions in the region mobilized and the KouekongOmnisports stadium in Bafoussamwitnessed an unprecedented crowd for the game Senegal versus Guinea and Malawi versus Zimbabwe games. The University of Dschang also followed the cue with a 200-man delegation made up of members of staff and students of the institution.
The Buea-Limbe site took the relay on Sunday with total mobilization from the population. The Buea Council put free transportation at the service of its workers, the University of Bueadid same while some social and cultural groups equally mobilized on their part to be part of the party.
“We made special contributions to hire a bus to go down to Limbe and watch AFCON matches because it is a lifetime experience which we will not want to miss. We will be coming to Limbe every matchday to cheer the teams and we hope the Indomitable Lions play here in the coming day,” Nelson Molua, member of a social group in Mutengene said.
The match between Cameroon and Cape Verde so far hold the record attendance of supporters with 50,500 fans in attendance.
The Senegal versus Malawi game at the KouekongOmnisports stadium in Bafoussam had over 11,500 fans in attendance; close to 80 percent full, the game between Gabon and Morocco on Tuesday night saw about 25,000 fans.
The general mobilization by fans, supporters and various stakeholders to foil up stadium records massive improvement, it is hoped the start of the knockout stages next Sunday will even draw more persons to stadiums to watch the exciting games that are coming up.
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