A “Revolutionary” App on Paper
Designed by CAF and the Local Organizing Committee,Yalla was meant to symbolize the modernization of the tournament: an all-in-one platform combining ticketing, Fan ID, and e-Visa for foreign supporters.
The ambition was clear: to simplify the fan experience, digitalize access to stadiums, and make CAN 2025 the most connected tournament in African football history.
But from the very first hours of its launch, the dream turned into a nightmare.
A Failed Launch on Day One
On Monday, October 13, the official start of sales was highly anticipated. In theory, the first tickets were supposed to be accessible via the applicationYalla, available for download on Android and iOS.
In practice, users were faced with an avalanche of problems:
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Endless loading screens upon opening the app.
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Inability to create an account or receive a validation code.
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Inaccessible ticketing, sometimes even before the payment phase.
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Error messages and persistent blocks.
On social media, reactions were swift. Screenshots, videos, and ironic comments flooded Moroccan Twitter. Some called it a “scam,” while others termed it a “real-world test” conducted on supporters.
Fans' Anger
In the face of these malfunctions, frustration quickly turned to anger. Many denounced a lack of preparation, absence of testing prior to launch, and near-total communication failure from the organizers.
For such a highly anticipated event, this digital disorganization is seen as an embarrassment. Moroccan supporters claim to have spent hours on the app without ever managing to buy a single ticket.
Others believe that CAF and the organizing committee underestimated the massive traffic expected at launch.
A Silence That Speaks Volumes
For several hours after the launch, neither CAF nor the organizing committee communicated officially about the situation. No explanations, no statements, no indication of the cause of the bug or a timeline for potential fixes.
A simple support number appeared on the app page, but with no real responses. This silence further fueled fans' anger, who feel abandoned.
An Image to Restore
This episode tarnishes the image of a tournament that was meant to be modern and exemplary. TheCAN 2025, the first major international competition held in Morocco in years, was supposed to showcase African expertise.
Today, it instead symbolizes the gap between technological ambitions and on-the-ground reality.
To regain public trust, the organizers will need to not only correct the technical flaws but also communicate clearly about the causes and the solutions implemented.
Conclusion
The failure of the launch ofYalla is a harsh reminder: technology alone is not enough without preparation, anticipation, and transparency.
Passionate and demanding Moroccan supporters now hope that the promised corrections will be implemented swiftly, so the app can finally live up to its promises.
For unless there is a quick turnaround, the Yalla fiasco will remain a blemish on the start of this much-anticipated Africa Cup of Nations.
