Kenyans planning to attend the highly anticipated CHAN 2024 clash between Harambee Stars and Zambia at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Sunday, August 17, have been advised to arrive at least five hours before kickoff, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) has announced.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 12, the LOC urged fans to present valid e-tickets on their mobile phones for fast and seamless entry. Printed versions of the tickets will not be accepted.
The directive comes in the wake of chaotic scenes on August 10, during Kenya’s match against Morocco, where ticketless fans breached security, causing crowd control issues and infrastructural damage to the newly refurbished stadium.
The LOC, chaired by Nicholas Musonye, stressed that these new measures are critical to ensuring the safety of attendees and the smooth running of the tournament.
“Despite the tournament’s success on and off the pitch, we must address the unfortunate crowd trouble witnessed during some of the games at Kasarani,” the statement read.
“To support safe operations, we urge fans to arrive early, purchase tickets exclusively from the authorised online vendor, and strictly follow all security protocols.”
In response to the August 10 incidents, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed strict sanctions, including a reduction of Kasarani Stadium’s matchday capacity to 60% meaning only 27,000 tickets will be available for the Kenya vs Zambia fixture.
CAF also directed that only e-ticket holders will be granted entry and has asked both the LOC and government to launch a national awareness campaign around matchday safety protocols.
CAF warned that failure to comply with these regulations could lead to harsher penalties, including the possibility of relocating future matches away from Kenya.
To accommodate more supporters and ease pressure on stadium access, the LOC also revealed plans to roll out official Fan Zones across key locations.
These areas will provide large screens for fans to watch the match in a festive, controlled environment.
“Details of these exciting Fan Zones will be shared soon,” the LOC said.
“Let’s work together to ensure Kenya continues to successfully host major tournaments and that we showcase our passion for football responsibly.”
As excitement builds for the Harambee Stars’ final group-stage game, officials continue to stress the importance of discipline, safety, and cooperation to maintain Kenya’s standing as a capable host nation.
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