Fans follow Cup of Nations from home

AFP Videos
Updated

SCRIPT: For millions of football fans across Africa, the Cup of Nations is a shared experience - not inside stadiums, but around television screens. These Nigerian supporters can't afford to travel to South Africa, so instead they're watching their team on a screen here in Lagos. Many wish they could go. SOUNDBITE 1: Ossy Ibeh (man), shopkeeper (English, 10 sec) "If there is an opportunity for people to travel to South Africa, I believe many people are willing to..." These fans from Burkina Faso are among the lucky ones -- despite coming from one of the poorest countries in the world. The Burkina government paid for 160 supporters to travel to South Africa, to watch their team's fairy tale ascent. SOUNDBITE 2 - El Hadj Ablassé Yameogo (man), President of Burkina Faso Supporters Association (French, 10 sec) "The state is taking care of us. The minister of sport is looking after us. We're staying in a 5 star hotel here. Everyone is happy. It's because of that that the Stallions are doing so well." [French: "C'est l'Etat qui nous prend en charge. Il y a un ministre des sports qui nous prend en charge. On a grand hôtel, 5 étoiles ici. Tout le monde est content. C'est à cause de ça même que les étalons continuent."] In 2010, South Africa hosted the World Cup, attracting over 300,000 foreign tourists, who spent an estimated 300 million euros. This year's Africa Cup of Nations hasn't done the same. Those working in the tourist industry have barely felt an impact. SOUNDBITE 3 - Zayne Viljoin (man), manager, Circus Circus café (English, 14 sec): "Mainly regulars. We do have the odd tourists that are coming here. I'd say we get 4 or 5 different tourists coming here a day. We expected a lot more. Mainly regulars." Millions of fans will be watching Nigeria and Burkina Faso fight for the Cup of Nations on Sunday. Whether they're lucky enough to be in South Africa, or whether they'll be glued to their televisions at home, the only thing that matters now is winning. SHOTLIST: LAGOS, NIGERIA, 3 FEBRUARY 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR Nigeria fans watching match on screen outside a stadium - SOUNDBITE 1: Ossy Ibeh (man), shopkeeper NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA, 3 FEBRUARY 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR Burkina Faso fans singing before their match - SOUNDBITE 2: El Hadj Ablassé Yameogo (man), President of Burkina Faso Supporters Association JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, JUNE 2010, SOURCE: AFPTV - Dutch fans blowing vuvuzelas - VAR fans gathered around screen DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, 6 FEBRUARY 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR tourists on the beach - SOUNDBITE 3: Zayne Viljoin (man), manager, Circus Circus café DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, 6 FEBRUARY 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR Nigerian fans celebrating their semi final victory EXTRA RUSHES LAGOS, NIGERIA, 3 FEBRUARY 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR Nigeria fans watching match on screen outside a stadium NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA, 3 FEBRUARY 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR Burkina Faso fans singing before their match DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, 6 FEBRUARY 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR tourists on the beach - VAR Nigerian fans celebrating their semi final victory