By Riches Soberekon
Mali’s ruling junta has invited citizens to celebrate the recent military victory in Kidal by attending two upcoming World Cup qualifier matches at significantly lower ticket prices.
In a move aimed at fostering public participation in the festivities, the Sports Ministry announced on Wednesday evening via a Facebook post that general admission tickets for the matches against Chad on Friday and the Central African Republic on Monday will be slashed by half to a mere 1,000 CFA francs ($1.65).
“We invite the sporting public and the youth of Mali to join us in a grand show of support on November 17 and 20,” the statement read, “as we celebrate this historic victory of our armed forces alongside the Eagles of Mali.”
The recapture of Kidal, a strategically important northern crossroads town, from predominantly Tuareg rebel groups on Tuesday marked a significant milestone for Mali’s military, which has been battling insurgencies in the region for years. The victory considered the most notable since the ruling junta’s rise to power in 2020, was met with widespread jubilation and was widely praised in the media.
While announcing the ticket price reduction, the Malian Football Federation refrained from explicitly linking it to the Kidal victory, instead stating that the move was intended to “give our Eagles a boost as they embark on their World Cup qualifying campaign.”
The reduced ticket prices are expected to draw a larger crowd to the matches, allowing Malians to unite in celebration of their military’s achievements and cheer on their national team as they strive for World Cup qualification.
