The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has enforced an immediate freeze on ticket sales for the upcoming CHAN 2024 match between Kenya and Zambia at the Kasarani Stadium following widespread chaos and allegations of fraud.
This comes barely a week after CAF fined the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Ksh 2.5 million following serious security breaches during the CHAN 2024 opening match between Kenya and DR Congo at Kasarani Stadium on August 3, 2025.
CAF Reasons
CAF has cited the major safety and security breaches that marred the Harambee Stars game against Morocco on Sunday, 10 August 2025, as the main reason for the decision to ban the ticket sales.
The incidents during and before the match included a broken gate, entry by fans without tickets, overcrowding beyond capacity, invasion of the media centre, and the use of tear gas.
At gate 11, a serious stampede occurred, endangering the lives of fans due to overcrowding and inadequate crowd control.
Some individuals also entered restricted Public Security Areas (PSAs) and behind Block 18 in violation of safety protocols.
A motorcycle outside the stadium was captured dangerously manoeuvring through the fans who were queuing to get into the stadium.
A Falcon Private Security guard was also allegedly assaulted a CAF commercial staff member and a sponsor representative.
CAF’s disciplinary and safety committees are investigating and will determine the next steps.
Also Read: Kenya Beat Morocco 1-0 in CHAN 2024 to Maintain Group A Lead
Prior to the commencement of the CHAN 2024 tournament, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman, Nicholas Musonye, confirmed that there would be no ticket sales on match days for the remainder of the tournament.
Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo admitted that the delayed deployment of security contributed to the chaos.
Penalties
Kenya was fined Ksh2.5 million for the first incident at Kasarani Stadium on August 3, 2025:
- Ksh 644,500 for the stampede and unauthorized entry.
- Ksh 1,289,000 for obstruction and assault of CAF officials.
- Official warning for the fires and general crowd mismanagement.
CAF has warned FKF that further sanctions could follow if similar incidents occur in upcoming matches, as Kenya is co-hosting CHAN 2024 alongside Uganda and Tanzania, with the final scheduled for August 30.
Many fans are demanding transparency in the ticketing process, including visibility into bulk purchases and stricter controls on resale.
There are calls for CAF and FKF to overhaul the digital ticketing system and ensure fair access for genuine supporters.
FKF and government officials have issued stern warnings to fans, emphasizing that Kenya’s reputation and its AFCON 2027 bid are at stake.
Chaos in Kenyan football
Kenyan football has long been plagued by chaos, corruption, and mismanagement, with recent CHAN 2024 events at Kasarani Stadium merely the latest chapter in a troubled history.
A Gor Mahia vs Murang’a Seal match at Machakos Stadium descended into violence and hooliganism, raising safety concerns in 2024.
Tensions boiled over at Gusii Stadium on August 6, 2024, as a secondary school football match between Musingu High and Kodero Bara during the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national games in Kisii County, as fans and students were chased away by tear gas.
From 2004 to 2010, Kenya faced multiple suspensions due to government interference in football affairs.
Also Read: CHAN 2024: Fixtures, Scores, Group Standings, Finals and Tickets
Conflicts between the Ministry of Sports and FKF led to repeated stalemates and disrupted league operations.
From 2010 to 2023, Kenya was hit with a match-fixing pandemic, leading to the suspension of several top-tier teams and officials who manipulated the match outcomes of the 2010 Kenya Premier League season.
The 2012 FIFA World Cup qualifiers saw more Kenyan international players get banned for allegedly fixing a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia.
In 2023, FIFA banned four Kenyan players (one for life) and FKF suspended 14 players and two coaches over match-fixing.
In March 2025, Kakamega Homeboyz and Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, was suspended for 90 days after a video surfaced allegedly showing him negotiating to fix a match.
In 2019, Gor Mahia faced hefty fines for hooliganism, underscoring the urgent need for effective measures to control unruly behaviour and ensure the safety of players, officials, and spectators.
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