The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has petitioned the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to intervene in a ticketing dispute that has left approximately 500 Ghanaian supporters stranded in Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire. The fans, who traveled to watch Thursday's AFCON 2027 qualifier against Cote d'Ivoire, are facing the prospect of missing the match due to a shortage of tickets. The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has declared the Stade de la Paix sold out.
According to the GFA, its official ticket allocation was communicated during a Match Coordination Meeting (MCM) held on Wednesday, but the numbers handed to the Association fell well short of what was needed to cover the roughly 500 Ghanaian fans already in Bouake. The GFA has formally requested that CAF secure an additional block of about 500 tickets so that stranded supporters are not shut out of the match.
The qualifier is a significant early test in Ghana's campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and the Group C opener against a fierce regional rival has drawn strong interest from Ghanaian fans willing to travel across the border to support the team in person. The match is crucial for the Black Stars, and the GFA is keen to ensure that their supporters do not miss out on the action.
The GFA has also raised the matter directly with the Match Commissioner overseeing the fixture, who has assured the Association of his assistance in resolving the issue. The Association remains committed to ensuring that Ghanaian supporters in Bouake get the chance to watch the Black Stars in the Group C opener.
A Match Coordination Meeting, commonly referred to as an MCM, is a pre-match logistics meeting between officials of both competing football associations, the host federation, and match officials. Matters such as ticket allocations, security, and operational arrangements for a fixture are finalised during the meeting.
CAF, the Confederation of African Football, is the continental governing body responsible for organising competitions such as the Africa Cup of Nations and its qualifiers. The GFA has asked CAF to intervene in the ticketing dispute, and it remains to be seen whether the governing body will approve the request for additional tickets.
The outcome of the petition is yet to be determined, and it is unclear whether the additional 500 tickets will be secured ahead of Thursday's kickoff. The GFA and CAF will likely continue to work together to resolve the issue, with the goal of ensuring that all eligible fans have the opportunity to watch the match.
Key points
- GFA petitions CAF to intervene in ticketing dispute
- Approximately 500 Ghanaian fans stranded in Bouake due to ticket shortage
- Match Commissioner to assist in resolving the issue
