During AFCON in Morocco, accessibility measures inside stadiums, such as adapted seating and discounted tickets with accompanying access, have enabled spectators with disabilities to attend matches. The experience, however, can vary when it comes to reaching the venues themselves, where distance and access routes play a key role in how smoothly fans with reduced mobility can attend games. DR ‹ › As the Africa Cup of Nations, currently being held in Morocco, progresses, stadiums continue to draw growing crowds. Among the spectators are fans with reduced mobility, present in the stands to support their national teams with the same enthusiasm and passion as other supporters. For this continental tournament, a dedicated ticketing system has been put in place to accommodate spectators with disabilities. Stadiums hosting AFCON matches have introduced specific arrangements for fans with reduced mobility. How smoothly does accessibility extend from inside the stadiums to the journey toward the venues for people with reduced mobility? Accessibility tickets and seating arrangements To attend AFCON matches, spectators with reduced mobility can purchase two types of tickets classified by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as «Accessibility» tickets. The Wheelchair Accessibility Category is intended for spectators who use wheelchairs. This ticket provides a dedicated space to accommodate a wheelchair, without a fixed seat. The second option is the Non-Wheelchair Accessibility Category, designed for spectators with reduced mobility who require an easily accessible seat but do not use a wheelchair, CAF explains. Holders of both accessibility tickets are required to purchase an accompanying ticket, which allows a support person to attend the match with them. This step is «mandatory», according to Karim Cherkaoui, an expert and activist in disability rights. «From an infrastructure perspective, the stadiums used during AFCON comply with FIFA specifications, which require that one seat per 1,000 be reserved for people with reduced mobility», Cherkaoui told Yabiladi. These seats are accessible on the condition that spectators declare their disability in advance when purchasing tickets. «Through the official ticketing platform, spectators are asked to submit documentation proving their disability», he noted. While Morocco does not have a standardized disability card, Cherkaoui explained that an alternative exists in the form of a disability certificate issued by the Ministry of Solidarity, Family and Social Integration, which is accepted for ticketing purposes. «This allows them to purchase a ticket for themselves and their accompanying person for the price of one regular ticket, it is essentially a 50% discount», he added. Reaching the stadiums: the main challenge Inside the venues, accessibility ticket holders benefit from adapted access routes, designated seating areas, and the presence of on-site support teams assisting fans with disabilities, as well as accessible restrooms, according to the organizing committee. The main difficulty, however, lies in reaching the stadiums before entering them. According to Cherkaoui, access to the stadium gates represents a significant challenge for spectators with reduced mobility. «Parking facilities are often located far from stadiums», he noted, requiring long distances to be covered on foot or with assistance. At Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, for example, spectators must cross a bridge or use an underground tunnel to reach the venue. While a lift is available in the tunnel, it does not accommodate larger electric wheelchairs. «This poses a significant obstacle for people with reduced mobility», he explained. Dedicated gates and signage While acknowledging that facilities for people with reduced mobility do exist at stadium entrances, Cherkaoui said that more could be done. He said also that there are no dedicated entry routes specifically reserved for people with reduced mobility. «Numerous videos circulating online show people in wheelchairs being physically lifted by others to overcome barriers or pass through narrow access points», he said. «We would have liked to see clearly designated gates and access lanes exclusively reserved for people with disabilities, as well as visible signage guiding them directly to appropriate entry points», he said. «Instead, many are forced to follow the regular access routes, which are often long, congested, and labyrinth-like, increasing the risk of blockages», he added. Even when adapted seating is available inside the stadiums, spectators holding regular tickets must follow standard access procedures, which remain unsuitable for many people with disabilities. The final entry gates, Cherkaoui noted, are the same for all spectators, regardless of mobility. «In one documented case, a spectator using a large wheelchair was unable to pass through a narrow entry gate designed for single-person access», he said. Another issue concerns spectators with disabilities who hold physical tickets or were gifted tickets, rather than purchasing them online. According to Cherkaoui, these spectators are not included in the adapted access system and are often directed to general seating areas, limiting their ability to benefit from accessibility measures. Visually impaired spectators While the ticketing system does not specifically address the needs of visually impaired spectators, an initiative launched by CAF in partnership with Touch2See, a Toulouse-based company, seeks to bridge this accessibility gap. Through this program, visually impaired fans were able to follow matches such as Uganda vs. Tanzania and DR Congo vs. Botswana. The initiative makes football matches accessible through live audio commentary, combined with a tactile tablet that reproduces the movement of the ball on the pitch. This technology allows visually impaired supporters to follow the game in real time from the stands, significantly enhancing their matchday experience. This technology took place for the first time in January 2024 in Abidjan during a match between Egypt and Ghana.
