Tears, Celebrations Characterise AFCON 2013 – Mbalula

South Africa’s Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has said that the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations can be hailed a success despite the fact there have been a number of half-filled stadiums throughout the event.

Bafana Bafana games were fantastically supported in Durban; the crowd roaring them on to a 2-0 win against Angola before celebrating wildly as they qualified for the quarter-finals following their nail-biting 2-2 draw with Morocco.

Even in the driving rain of Johannesburg where the first game was played, Bafana fans showed their patriotism as they turned up in their thousands at the 90 000-seater National Stadium only to experience the worst game of the AFCON as Cape Verde held Bafana to a goalless draw.

Ethiopians and Nigerians came out in full force at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit to support the Walya Antelopes and the Super Eagles respectively, but in Rustenburg and Port Elizabeth where Ivory Coast and Ghana played, the stadiums were not packed despite an abundance of stars on show.

Nevertheless, Mbalula had only good things to say about the continental championship which SA is hosting for the second time.

“The AFCON tournament up to this point… we can announce that it has been a great success,” Mbalula said to reporters.

“Since the tournament took off, the attendance of games has improved. South Africans, as always, have been good hosts. There have been no signs of negativity from the fans.

“I want to thank the SA Police Service and the various security forces for their efforts. To the fans from across the globe, it has been wonderful and great. What will pull fans to the stadium is flair, the beautiful game and the fact that the host nation is into the latter stages.”

Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Polokwane were 2010 FIFA World Cup host cities but won’t see any action as the tournament draws to close, yet the minister believes everyone is part of the AFCON spirit.

“The turnout has been good. Nobody can say in this country that they do not know that there is a big tournament in the country. The teams have fought hard to win; tears and celebrations have characterised this AFCON.”