The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has suspended ticket sales for all matches at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, including next Sunday’s Kenya vs Zambia tie, after chaotic scenes and major security lapses marred Harambee Stars’ clash with Morocco.
The disruptions before and during Sunday’s match included a broken stadium gate, fans entering without tickets, overcrowding beyond capacity, invasion of the media centre, and the use of tear gas.
CAF’s disciplinary and safety committees have opened investigations and will decide on further action.
Ticketing service provider Mookh Africa confirmed the suspension in an email to fans. “After the security breach in Kasarani yesterday, ticket sales for Kasarani games have been suspended until further notice from the organisers,” the Mookh Support Team said.
The chaos left hundreds of Kenyan supporters stranded outside despite holding what appeared to be valid tickets for the high-stakes game.
Some fans forced their way in through a breached gate as security guards looked on. Others chanted and tried to push forward before being stopped.
Frustrated ticket holders said they were turned away after being told their tickets had already been scanned. Many accused rogue vendors of selling fake tickets, with some paying between Sh300 and Sh1,000 for worthless copies.
“There are people selling us fake tickets,” said Anthony Ochieng’. Another fan, John Ngui, claimed, “There are people who buy many tickets and don’t even attend the game.”
Match-day ticket prices are set at Sh200 for regular, Sh500 for VIP, and Sh1,000 for VVIP, each valid for a single game during the month-long tournament.
However, outside Kasarani, a thriving black market has seen tickets resold or duplicated for unsuspecting buyers.
As tempers flared, some supporters resorted to jumping over the perimeter fence to gain illegal entry, with several succeeding despite heavy police presence. The breach caused a near stampede, heightening fears over fan safety.
The incident has drawn concern from CAF, which has already fined the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Sh2.5 million for poor crowd control. The body has warned that repeat disturbances during CHAN could result in tougher sanctions.
The government and FKF have urged fans to observe stadium rules and maintain discipline for the remainder of the tournament, warning that further crowd trouble will not be tolerated.
