The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman for the CHAN 2024 tournament, Nicholas Musonye, has clarified why some fans were locked out of Kasarani Stadium during Harambee Stars’ 1-0 victory over DR Congo in their opening match.
Football supporters had stormed into the stadium after waiting in long queues ahead of the much-anticipated clash. Video footage circulating online showed massive crowds lining up at the entry checkpoints before eventually breaching barriers and pushing through, overwhelming security personnel as they rushed to occupy seats in the 48,000-seater arena.
Inside the stadium, security was tighter as fans streamed in to witness the match. However, some were unable to gain entry, raising concerns about unfair ticket distribution and suggestions that the government had reserved sections of the stadium to avoid negative chants from the crowd.
Musonye dismissed these allegations, insisting there was no preferential treatment in ticket allocation. He explained that all ticketing was overseen by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), not the Kenyan government or the local committee. Tickets, he added, were sold on an open market basis.
“We told people early that tickets were available, so they should buy them in advance. But many prefer to wait until the last minute,” he said. “Kasarani no longer holds 60,000 people; after reconfiguration, its capacity is down to around 48,000. All 48,000 tickets were sold out.”
Musonye praised the turnout at Kasarani, describing it as a significant improvement compared to previous tournaments. He recalled how disappointed he had been during the CECAFA competitions, where stadiums remained empty despite low ticket prices. In contrast, Sunday’s huge crowd demonstrated growing local enthusiasm for football.
He acknowledged that the smaller crowd at Nyayo National Stadium for the Morocco versus Angola fixture was due to the nation’s overwhelming focus on Harambee Stars’ game at Kasarani.
Looking ahead to the remaining group matches, Musonye urged fans to purchase tickets early to avoid similar frustrations. He encouraged those unable to secure tickets to follow the games on television, noting that arrangements had been made to accommodate viewers at home.
Musonye also commended the generally good conduct of the fans, especially the youth, and encouraged them to maintain respectful behavior for the remainder of the tournament. He expressed hope that the passion and support witnessed at Kasarani would continue to grow, boosting Harambee Stars throughout their CHAN 2024 campaign.
