The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended ticket sales for all upcoming fixtures at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
This includes next Sunday’s much-anticipated CHAN 2024 clash between Kenya’s Harambee Stars and Zambia’s Chipolopolo.
The drastic move follows serious safety and security lapses during Kenya’s recent game against Morocco.
CAF said the incidents both before and during the match posed significant risks to fans, players, and officials.
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According to reports, one of the stadium gates was broken, allowing fans without tickets to enter.
The venue became overcrowded beyond its official capacity, creating dangerous crowd conditions.
Unauthorised individuals overran the media centre, and at one point, police used tear gas to disperse sections of the crowd.
CAF’s disciplinary and safety committees have launched an investigation into the events. They will determine the next course of action, which could include sanctions, stricter safety protocols, or even relocation of fixtures.
The Harambee Stars are set to face Zambia on Sunday, August 17, in a key group stage encounter. However, uncertainty now looms over how fans will access the match or whether attendance will be restricted entirely.
Kenyan football authorities are under pressure to assure CAF of improved security measures to avoid further disruptions.
The incident has sparked renewed debate on stadium safety, crowd management, and accountability in local football events.
Nicholas Musonye, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), had warned fans to desist from accessing the stadium with banned things to avert the wrath of the Confederation.
“There are items that are prohibited from the stadium. We do not want to attract penalties from CAF. Isukuti, whistles, and vuvuzelas are not allowed. Let us support Harambee Stars with decorum,” he added.
He revealed that on the previous match day, many fans arrived late, leading to fears of a possible stampede at the gates.
“On Sunday, fans piled around the entrance just before kickoff. That kind of behavior is dangerous. We want people to come early, settle in, and enjoy the game without pressure,” he added.
Musonye also promised clearer communication moving forward, saying he will engage CAF to ensure fans get timely updates.
“Sometimes when fans try to buy tickets online, they get messages like ‘cleaning up the seats’ or ‘tickets coming soon.’ We’re going to clear this with CAF and have precise information available before, during, and after each match.”