Ticket sales for several upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) matches in Nairobi have been suspended after chaotic and unsafe scenes marred Kenya’s shock 1-0 victory over tournament favourites Morocco at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The Harambee Stars’ win, a major highlight for home fans, was overshadowed by alarming disorder both inside and outside the stadium, raising serious concerns over crowd safety, ticketing fraud, and overall match-day management.
Witnesses and officials reported that the 48,063-capacity stadium was overcrowded, with fans forcing entry without tickets, breaking gates, and infiltrating areas reserved for accredited media personnel. The chaos began well before kick-off, with supporters locked outside despite holding what appeared to be valid tickets. Many later discovered they had unknowingly purchased duplicates from ticket resellers who had bought in bulk and resold them to multiple buyers. This unregulated black market, operating just metres from the stadium gates, is believed to have contributed heavily to the confusion and security breaches.
Mookh Africa, CHAN’s ticketing service provider in Kenya, confirmed to BBC Sport Africa that ticket sales for future fixtures at Kasarani have been halted pending further instructions from organisers. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) denied ordering the suspension, though it acknowledged deep concerns over the security lapses. A CAF spokesperson said the governing body was working closely with Kenya’s local organising committee and government officials to address the problems.
Fans’ frustrations were compounded by reports that some matches were listed as sold out even before the official sales time. On Sunday, large groups of stranded supporters became increasingly agitated, with some resorting to climbing the stadium’s perimeter fence to gain entry. The situation deteriorated further when a lower gate was breached, leading to a near stampede. Several attendees accused police of using tear gas on crowds attempting to access the venue.
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was tense as capacity swelled well beyond safe limits. Some Kenyan fans forced their way into the press box for a better view, alarming members of the Moroccan media. Despite a strong security presence, the breaches continued, highlighting weaknesses in the crowd control strategy.
The incident comes just days after the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was fined $20,000 by CAF $2,500 of which was suspended for earlier crowd control failures during the tournament. With Kenya co-hosting CHAN alongside Tanzania and Uganda, the security mishaps have sparked wider concerns as the three nations prepare to jointly stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kasarani is still scheduled to host three more matches during CHAN 2024, including Kenya’s highly anticipated group-stage clash against Zambia and a quarter-final tie. Supporters are now urging authorities to urgently overhaul the online ticketing system, introduce stronger anti-fraud measures, and tighten security to ensure fan safety. Many warn that without decisive action, similar incidents could tarnish the country’s reputation as a capable host for major continental tournaments.
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