SHOWS: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JANUARY 9, 2013) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GROUP DANCING 2. MAN DRUMMING 3. MORE OF DANCERS 4. THE SOUTH AFRICA TEAM, BAFANA BAFANA, SHAKING HANDS WITH DIGNITARIES 5. CROWD CHEERING 6. MORE OF BAFANA BAFANA PLAYERS 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA'S MINISTER OF SPORTS AND RECREATION, FIKILE MBALULA, SAYING: "Go and do us proud, we release to go and compete with the best in the world." 8. MASCOT AND DANCERS ON STAGE 9. VARIOUS OF SOCCER FANS 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHANESSBURG RESIDENT, GLADES GAILY, SAYING: "We are dedicating that cup to Tata Madiba (Nelson Mandela) we owe him big time remember." 11. FLAGS OF PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES 12. MORE OF CROWD STORY: Dance troupes and hundreds of soccer fans turned up in Johannesburg to mark the start of a 10-day countdown to the African cup of Nations (AFCON) kick off on January 19th. The tournament, which ends on February 10, pits 16 countries against each other in the most prestigious competition in African football. The biennial tournament will be holding its 29th edition this year. Many soccer fans also attended the event to see their national team, Bafana Bafana, who were being presented to the country's minister of sports and recreation, Fikile Mbalula. Mbalula told the crowd that they must show support for their country, and encourage the team to do well as they prepare for the tournament. "Go and do us proud, we release to go and compete with the best in the world," said Mbalula. Musicians kept the crowd in high spirits while dancers including the official AFCON mascot displayed their latest dance moves at the event held near the Nelson Mandela Library in Sandton. The AFCON opening match will be played between South Africa's and Cape Verde in Johannesburg. In a warm up match with Norway on Tuesday (January 8) Bafana Bafana lost 1-0 but many fans say this will not stop them from cheering their team on in the hope that they can win the cup this time. "We are dedicating that cup to Tata Madiba (Nelson Mandela) we owe him big time remember," said Glades Gaily a Johannesburg resident. Tickets on sale range from 5 to 23 US dollars. The local organizing committee said other African countries are buying tickets in bulk. Ethiopia has already secured 30,000 tickets and defending champions Zambia has 15,000 tickets for their fans. About 86,000 football fans are expected to visit the Johannesburg National Stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies. Authorities said security has been beefed up to ensure law and order in maintained during the event. Emergency units will also be on standby to guarantee safety of thousands of fans expected to descend on the city.