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Kenyan football fans have been warned to stay away from Kasarani Stadium on Sunday if they do not have a ticket for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) clash between Harambee Stars and Zambia.
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Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairperson Nicholas Musonye said Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations allow only ticket holders near match venues, warning that any misconduct could cost Kenya the chance to host the tournament’s quarter-finals.
“The risks are very high since Kenya has already been fined three times. If we misbehave on Sunday, the Kenyan quarter-final could be moved to another country. That would be a huge loss, and future competitions we are bidding for could also be affected,” Musonye said on Tuesday.
His remarks follow CAF’s decision to reduce Kasarani’s capacity from 48,000 to 27,000 and ban paper tickets after security lapses during the Kenya–Morocco match. Musonye cautioned that violence or crowd trouble could damage football’s image, scare families away, and drive off sponsors.
“If I want to come with my children but there’s violence every day, I won’t come. That lowers football’s appeal, reduces income, and partners pull out because of bad behaviour,” he said.
He dismissed claims that government officials have special access to tickets, clarifying that CAF solely manages ticket sales. Fans were urged to buy tickets only from authorised online vendors and to arrive at the stadium five hours before kickoff.
Musonye also warned against buying tickets from unauthorised sellers, calling them “illegal elements,” and urged fans to report such activities.
On the previous security breach, he said police were instructed to avoid using force to prevent casualties but stressed that officers must remain alert to ensure safety.
