Confederation of African Football (CAF) has demanded “tangible actions” from Kenya to address breach of stadium security by fans during Harambee Stars matches at the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championships (Chan).
Ahead of Kenya’s highly-anticipated Group 'A" clash against giants Morocco on Sunday, scores of impatient fans overwhelmed security officers and jumped over the gates at the 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani.
The security breach comes barely a week after CAF’s Disciplinary Board imposed a total fine of Sh2.5 million ($20,000) on Football Kenya Federation (FKF) due to breach of Caf’s Disciplinary Code, as well as safety and security regulations during two Group ‘A’ matches held on August 3.
Kenyan fans during the African Nations Championships match against Morocco at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 10, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
The fixtures were Kenya’s 1-0 win over two-time Chan champions the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at MISC, Kasarani, and Morocco’s 2-0 win over Angola at the 18,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium.
“I must condemn in the strongest terms possible terms the acts of hooliganism by some of the supporters at Kasarani Stadium,” Caf’s Communications Director Lux September said on Monday in Nairobi.
“There is a strong feeling from Caf that what has been happening with security breaches should stop. Not only in words but there has to be actions. There has to be practical tangible actions to stop this,” September said.
On Monday, Mookh Africa, the company tasked with selling match tickets in Kenya said it had suspended the sale of tickets for Kenya’s crucial Group “A” match against Zambia that will be played on Sunday at MISC, Kasarani.
But later on Monday, September denied that Caf had suspended sale of tickets for Kenya’s crucial match against Zambia on Sunday at MISC, Kasarani, only stating that a high level security meeting bringing together members of Kenya’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), CAF and government officials was underway.
Kenya's coach Benni McCarthy reacts on the touchline during the African Nations Championships match against Morocco at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 10, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
“There is no decision yet to suspend ticket sales for any match during Chan. There are a lot of discussions on issues of safety and security because of the serious breaches that happened in Kasarani,” said September, adding that a statement would be released later, outlining the way forward on the matter.
On Monday, Kenyans woke up to the shocking news that the sale of tickets for Harambee Stars’ upcoming match against Zambia had ended.
“Ticket sales ended on August 10, 2025 at 21:00,” a message on mookh.africa , the online site for purchasing the tournament’s tickets in Kenya, said. But responding to enquiries by Nation Sports as to why fans couldn’t purchase tickets for the match, Mookh Africa, the company contracted to sell Chan tickets in Kenya said the sale had been suspended due to security breach witnessed at MISC, Kasarani.
“After the security breach in Kasarani on Sunday, tickets sales for Kasarani games have been suspended until further notice from the organizers,” Mookh Africa responded to enquiries as to why fans couldn’t purchase tickets for the match online.
Kenya’s Local Organising Committee Chairman Nicholas Musonye said he had convened a meeting over the matter, and would issue a response later. Musonye was yet to respond by time of this article's publication.
Kenya are co-hosting the 19-nation, four week biennial tournament with Uganda and Tanzania. In addition to hosting Group 'A' matches, MISC has been selected to host the Chan final on August 30.
Kenyan fans during the African Nations Championships match against Morocco at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 10, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
In Kenya, the regular tickets are selling at Sh200 while the VIP and VVIP are selling at Sh500 and Sh1,000 respectively.
September paid tribute to Kenyan fans for attending the matches in large numbers but stressed that safety and security is paramount.
“Caf is exceptionally impressed with how the Kenyans have embraced the competition. The spirit of togetherness that has brought to the people of Kenya. The message from Caf president (Patrice Motsepe) is that we must always deliver a safe world-class event and that is what we want to achieve,” he said.
