Tense scenes unfolded at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday afternoon as frustrated football fans forced their way into the venue ahead of the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) clash between Kenya’s Harambee Stars and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Footage shared by media showed a sea of fans waiting in long queues outside the stadium.
Moments after some were allowed through initial security checkpoints, the crowd broke through the barricades, flooding into the stadium through multiple entry points.
Overwhelmed security personnel could do little as hundreds of supporters sprinted past them into the 48,000-seat facility.
Despite the chaos at the gates, security within the stadium remained tight, with law enforcement managing crowd control once fans were inside.
The atmosphere quickly shifted to anticipation as supporters settled in for the long-awaited kickoff.
Earlier, complaints had emerged from the public about ticketing challenges, with some alleging that the government had distributed bulk tickets to selected groups in an effort to prevent anti-government chants during the high-profile match.
However, Nicholas Musonye, head of the CHAN 2024 Local Organising Committee, told AFP that tickets had officially sold out by Monday evening.
Kenya is co-hosting this year’s CHAN tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda, with the three East African nations aiming to showcase their growing football and infrastructural capabilities on the continental stage.
