Wayne Lumbasi
The African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kenya has been marred by crowd disorder and ticketing chaos, raising serious safety concerns and casting a shadow over the tournament’s otherwise spirited football action.
Trouble erupted during recent matches at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, particularly following Kenya’s 1-0 win over Morocco.
Thousands of fans thronged the gates; many without tickets resulting in stampedes, security breaches, and severe overcrowding inside the stadium. The situation forced police to intervene, with some supporters sustaining minor injuries in the chaos.
A ticket checkpoint in the ongoing CHAN 2024 /standard/
Organizers swiftly suspended ticket sales for upcoming fixtures, citing the need to protect fans and players. According to officials, the breakdown in crowd control stemmed from poor gate management, fake tickets in circulation, and insufficient coordination between event stewards and security forces.
According to officials, the breakdown in crowd control stemmed from poor gate management, fake tickets in circulation, and insufficient coordination between event stewards and security forces.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is reportedly considering fines against the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for failing to meet tournament safety standards. Sanctions could include financial penalties, hosting restrictions for future matches, or mandatory implementation of advanced ticketing systems such as electronic entry passes and pre-assigned seating.
27,000 fans will be allowed inside the 48,063-capacity Kasarani Stadium for future Kenya games at CHAN 2024
In response, the FKF has pledged to overhaul its match-day operations, introducing stricter entry screening, increased police presence, and staggered fan entry times.
Authorities are also weighing the possibility of limiting attendance at remaining games to avoid a repeat of the incident.
https://x.com/StandardKenya/status/1955196984454783344?t=wcjOaU_UI7P60EDb3diJkg&s=19
While Kenya’s CHAN performances have ignited national pride, the off-pitch turmoil has served as a stark reminder that hosting major tournaments requires more than sporting talent. It demands robust infrastructure, flawless organization, and above all, fan safety. How swiftly these lessons are acted upon will determine whether the remainder of CHAN 2025 proceeds without further disruption.
