Tanzania has dismissed claims circulating online that Kenyan fans have purchased all tickets for the CHAN quarter-final against Morocco, terming the reports “completely false.”
In a press briefing, Tanzania Government Spokesperson Gerson Musigwa urged fans not to worry, saying there are plenty of seats at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium for anyone eager to cheer the Taifa Stars.
“Our people who are talking as if tomorrow’s match concerns them have started spreading rumours. I want to reassure Tanzanians that the story claiming all tickets for Benjamin Mkapa Stadium have been sold is not true. Not true at all,” he said.
“When you come to the stadium, you will get in. The government has taken all necessary steps to ensure the stadium is in good order. There are plenty of spaces, so do not worry. They talk a lot because they fear us. But we say let it rain if it rains.”
The comments came after Kenyans took to social media claiming they had purchased tickets, not to support Tanzania but to cheer Morocco and deny local fans access.
The playful regional rivalry drew attention from high-profile Kenyan figures. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen joined the banter ahead of Kenya’s CHAN quarter-final against Madagascar at Kasarani Stadium on Friday.
“I congratulate all Kenyans who have bought Tanzanian tickets,” Murkomen joked on Wednesday during a fund drive for Kenyan Premier League newcomers APS Bomet in Nairobi.
“Please make sure you travel and go and support Morocco at Benjamin Mkapa. I like the banter between us, Uganda and Tanzania, but if they are going to make fun of us the way they have done, I’ll be very happy if it is Kenya versus Tanzania in the finals in Nairobi. Just imagine!”
Adding a playful Kiswahili twist, Murkomen quipped, “We’ll play in English, our game,” sparking a flurry of reactions on social media.
Fans on both sides have traded memes, jokes and predictions, highlighting that CHAN 2024 is about more than football; it has become a stage for regional pride.
Kenya will face Madagascar at 3:00 pm EAT, while Tanzania meets two-time champions Morocco at 8:00 pm EAT on Friday.
The action continues on Saturday with Sudan meeting Algeria at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, while Uganda go head-to-head with Senegal at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala to round off the quarter-final line-up.
The winners will advance to the semi-finals scheduled for August 26 and 27, with the eagerly awaited Final set for Saturday, August 30, 2025.