The national football team, Harambee Stars, has appealed to Kenyans to show discipline and responsibility in their support during the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) following crowd trouble in their 1-0 win over Morocco on Sunday, August 10.
During the high-stakes Group A encounter at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, surging crowds overwhelmed security personnel, with some fans forcing entry into the stadium without tickets.
The incident prompted the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to take disciplinary action against Kenya, reducing the fans allowed into the stadium in the final game against Zambia to 27,000.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Harambee Stars praised the passion of Kenyan fans but urged them to ensure they have valid tickets before attending matches.
“Your energy has carried us this far, and we are loving every moment of it. As we meet Zambia this Sunday at Kasarani, let’s show the same passion with patience. Come only if you have an original ticket — and if not, cheer us on from KBC or Azam at home. Let’s keep the focus on football and avoid actions that could cost the team,” read the post.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF), which is already under scrutiny by CAF for repeated safety violations, echoed the team’s sentiments, reminding fans that the country has worked hard to rebuild its football reputation and warned against behaviour that could undo this progress.
“Let’s support Harambee Stars responsibly on Sunday against Zambia and in all upcoming games. Crowd trouble is costing us dearly and we are facing heavy sanctions. Only show up at Kasarani if you have a genuine ticket. Tusiharibu game tumestruggle sana kuijenga,” urged FKF.
This is not the first time FKF has faced disciplinary measures from CAF during this tournament.
Meanwhile, CAF’s Disciplinary Board has fined Kenya KSh 6.45 million for safety and security lapses during the Morocco game.
The body cited multiple breaches of stadium safety and crowd control regulations, noting that fans without tickets compromised the match’s security.
“The Disciplinary Board found Kenya guilty and imposed a fine of USD 50,000. Kenya was warned that continued failure to meet CAF safety and security requirements may lead to the relocation of Kenya’s National Team matches to an alternative venue,” CAF said in a statement.
CAF also warned that persistent breaches could see Kenya barred from hosting future national team matches, a move that would threaten the country’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Kenya’s final Group A match against Zambia is scheduled for Sunday, August 17, at 3:00 p.m. at Kasarani. A win for the home team will see the Stars book a spot in the quarterfinals top of the group.
Tickets for the match are being sold exclusively online via mookh.com, with organisers stressing that only those with genuine digital tickets will be allowed entry.
By Newshub