The African Cup of Nations’ organising committee on Wednesday reduced ticket prices after a backlash from Egyptian football fans last month over exorbitant costs.
Tickets for the Egyptian national team’s matches in the summer tournament, which will take place in the country, were initially priced at 200 Egyptian pounds (about Ugx 44,000) for the cheapest admission and graduated up to 600 pounds (About Ugx 132,000).
“The committee… has decided to reduce the price of general admission tickets for Egypt’s matches in the first round for the competition from 200 to 150 pounds (about Ugx 33,000),” it said on Twitter.
The reductions took place “to ease the burden off of Egyptian soccer fans”.
The average monthly salary in the North African country hovers around 200 euros, according to official figures.
Living costs have soared since Egypt devalued their currency and slashed subsidies in order to receive a $12 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in 2016.
Egypt will host the competition for the fifth time this June and July, with 24 teams participating for the first time in an expanded format.
Other games not involving the host nation are still set at a slightly lower price.
Local supporters were allowed to attend domestic league games regularly for the first time in three years only last season.
Heavy restrictions had been imposed due to repeated violent incidents between fans and security.
The tournament will take place in Egypt between June 21 to July 19 and will be played at six different stadiums, the Cairo International, 30 June, El-Salam, Alexandria, Suez, and Ismailia.
The ticket prices will go as follow:
For Egypt national team games: EGP 150 for category 3, EGP 400 for category 2, EGP 600 for category 1, EGP 500 for upper category 1, and finally EGP 2500 for the presidential box.
As for the other games: EGP 100 (about Ugx 22,000) for category 3, EGP 300 (about Ugx 66,000) for category 2 and EGP 500 (about Ugx 110,000) for category 1.
