Football fans of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 will have to wait longer to fill Kasarani Stadium ahead of Kenya’s quarterfinal clash with Madagascar on Friday, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to lift partial closure sanctions imposed after security breaches during the Harambee Stars’ earlier matches.
CAF limited the number of spectators to 27,000 (60 per cent) of the stadium’s capacity, due to repeated and serious security lapses at recent CHAN 2024 fixtures.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya expressed confidence on Wednesday that CAF will eventually revise the restrictions, citing a “near-perfect” conduct by fans during Kenya’s last group game against Zambia.
“We did not have any incident that could attract sanctions from CAF, and therefore we want to thank the 12th man, the fans, the security team and all stakeholders who played a key role in ensuring a seamless game on Sunday. This affirmation underscores Kenya’s commitment to delivering a safe and world-class tournament experience,” Mvurya said.
He noted that FKF has already engaged CAF to have the stadium capacity revised, but has yet to receive a response.
“FKF has already engaged CAF to have the numbers revised; however, we await CAF’s response and will communicate any updates in due course,” he said.
Mvurya confirmed that preparations for Friday’s crunch encounter were in top gear, with strengthened security, improved lighting, and smooth gate operations planned to ensure both safety and an enjoyable fan experience.
To expand access for supporters, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have increased official fan zones from 10 to 13 across Nairobi.
New zones have been established at Ruiru, Dagoretti’s Camp Toyoyo, and Babadogo, joining existing locations including Uhuru Park, Archives, Dandora, Jacaranda, Clay City, Githurai, Kibra DC Grounds, and Lucky Summer in Kasarani.
The CS also welcomed private and county stakeholders interested in establishing additional fan zones across Nairobi and Mombasa. In Mombasa, six new zones will be hosted at Changamwe Volleyball Grounds (Changamwe), St. Mary’s Bangladesh Grounds (Jomvu), Mama Ngina Waterfront (Mvita), Shelly Beach (Likoni), Hassan Joho Stadium—Uwanja wa Mbuzi (Nyali), and Bilima Grounds (Kisauni).
On ticketing, the Ministry confirmed that CAF is addressing technical issues on its online portal.
“CAF is sorting out the issue of ticketing. There was a challenge yesterday, and they are working on it. We are confident they will announce soon how fans can access tickets through the portal. In the meantime, we urge Kenyans to maintain their high spirits, unity, and unwavering support for the Harambee Stars,” he said.
The CS, accompanied by Sports PS Elijah Mwangi and LOC Chair Nicholas Musonye, also praised the Local Organising Committee’s final preparations for the quarterfinal clash.
He encouraged Kenyans to rally behind the Harambee Stars while maintaining unity and avoiding political divisions.
