Ticket mayhem at CHAN Cranes opener as scammers cash in
On Monday morning, the scene outside the Fufa complex in Mengo resembled a frantic street auction rather than a ticket queue.
Long lines of anxious Uganda Cranes supporters stood baking in the sun— hoping, pleading and, in some cases, bargaining for physical tickets. It was the opening match day of Group C at the African Nations Championship (Chan), a highly anticipated double-header at the newly refurbished Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Guinea was set to face Niger, followed by Uganda’s home clash against continental heavyweights Algeria. Tickets had sold out online. Now, fans were scrambling for the few physical tickets promised by organizers the night before. What they found instead was chaos.
FROM HYPE TO HEARTBREAK
Caf’s social media post late Sunday evening announced with urgency: “Physical tickets are NOW available at FUFA complex, grab yours now!” The message sent thousands into motion. But instead of offering relief, it triggered a stampede of desperation.
“I came early and got my ticket, but those who arrived after me were out of luck,” said one Uganda Cranes fan. “Some people who came even earlier bought several tickets to resell. It was unfair.”
The black market had already pounced. Outside the Fufa complex, young men whispered prices to passersby. Others waved stacks of tickets in plain sight. A ticket that should cost Shs 10,000 was now going for Shs 30,000, if not more.
“This is business, my brother,” one tout said bluntly. “I came early, bought many tickets. If someone wants, they pay. If not, I sell to someone else.”
DESPERATION AND DOUBT
Some fans, with no alternatives left, gave in.
“I paid Shs 30,000 for this ticket from a guy near the fuel station,” said one anxious buyer. “But honestly, I’m not even sure if it’s real. People say some tickets are fake and won’t pass the scanners.”
As kickoff loomed, so did fear. Would they be let in? Would they be turned away at the gates after paying triple the price? Online systems had offered little reprieve. Many fans who tried to purchase their tickets digitally over the weekend encountered a slow, unstable platform that either froze or rejected their payment attempts.
Some were told to wait 30 minutes, only to return and find tickets were gone.
“I tried buying online several times, but the system kept crashing,” one fan said. “When it finally worked this morning, it showed ‘sold out.’ I had no choice but to come here.” Another supporter explained her challenge was not just the glitchy interface, but the lack of accessible payment options.
“The site only accepts MTN Mobile Money,” she said. “But I use Airtel. When I heard about physical tickets, I rushed here immediately.”
A CRISIS OF PLANNING, NOT PASSION
While some blamed fans for waiting until the last minute, others argued the chaos revealed deeper problems in Uganda’s event management infrastructure.
“If you see how quickly the tickets sold out, even at black market prices, it shows people are eager to attend matches again,” said one supporter.
“The issue isn’t demand. It’s planning.” Indeed, Caf’s decision to price group-stage tickets at just Shs 10,000 for two matches was widely applauded. Many fans believe such affordable pricing, if adopted by Fufa for domestic leagues, could help revive the lost vibrancy in Ugandan stadiums.
“Caf did the right thing,” said another fan. “People are coming back to the stadium because it’s affordable. Now Fufa should learn from this. Make it easier, cheaper, and people will fill the stands.”
LESSONS BEFORE AFCON 2027
The ticketing saga, marked by website failures, black market gouging, and rising fears of counterfeits, has exposed critical gaps in Uganda’s sports event planning. And with the country set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Kenya and Tanzania under the Pamoja bid, the stakes are only getting higher.
Experts say this week’s debacle must serve as a wake-up call.
“We cannot afford these mistakes on a continental stage,” said one local football analyst. “If Uganda wants to prove it’s ready for Afcon 2027, the organizers need to invest in robust, secure and accessible ticketing infrastructure now, not later.”
Fans echoed that sentiment. Multiple payment platforms, better fraud detection, controlled physical ticket sales, and crowd management protocols were all listed among their demands.
“This isn’t just about tickets,” said the fan who had bought his from a roadside seller. “It’s about trust. And right now, many of us don’t feel like the system has our backs.”
As Uganda’s football fever builds toward future international tournaments, one thing is clear: the passion is alive. But without serious fixes, poor systems could keep locking fans out—even when the stadium lights are on.
Related
