WITH category one tickets for the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations sold out, the Local Organising Committee is pleased with improved sales 10 days before kickoff.

A total of 317518 tickets were bought by Monday night, the LOC's chief competitions officer, Sipho Sithole, said yesterday.

Sithole said the R200 category one tickets for the opening match featuring hosts Bafana Bafana and Cape Verde at the National Stadium (Soccer City) on January 19, were sold out. Kickoff is at 6pm.

Morocco and Angola will meet in another Group A clash at the same venue at 9pm, the second part of a double-header.

"The public can now only buy category two and three tickets at a price of R125 and R100, respectively, for the opening day," said Sithole.

"Tickets are selling like hot cakes as there is now a big rush for the tickets in all the five host cities.

"By Monday, we had sold a total of 317518, but representatives of Angola came to our offices a few minutes ago to buy 4000 tickets.

"Ethiopia and Zambia have already bought 30000 and 15000 tickets, respectively. Other teams have applied for an average of 3000 tickets.

"Individuals, host cities, teams, federations and the Confederation of African Football are buying tickets, so the sales keep on improving."

Meanwhile, Mbombela is topping the sales list with 47524 tickets bought to date, followed by Rustenburg on 42042.

Durban is third with 39163 tickets bought, with Port Elizabeth fourth on 31052 sales.

For the opening ceremony on January 19, just over 50 000 tickets have been sold.

Besides Super Spar shops, tickets can also bought at a kiosk at Safa House in Nasrec.

Well-known fan Freddy "Saddam" Maake bought five tickets from the kiosk at the canteen of the federation. "It took my just 15 minutes or so and I was done," he said. "I will be buying more tickets in the next few days. I'm busy with my friends organising transport and accommodation for various venues."

Tickets can be bought through telesales on 087-980-3000 or on www.eqtickets.com.