Ticket Sales Suspended Amid Security Concerns at CHAN Matches in Nairobi

Ticket Sales Suspended Amid Security Concerns at CHAN Matches in Nairobi

Ticket Sales Suspended Amid Security Concerns at CHAN Matches in Nairobi

Ticket sales for several matches of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Nairobi have been suspended following chaotic scenes that marred Kenya's victory over Morocco on Sunday.

The Harambee Stars achieved a surprising 1-0 win against the pre-tournament favorites at a packed Kasarani Stadium, but the match was overshadowed by disorder both inside and outside the venue.

Security breaches included a broken gate, unauthorized entry by fans, overcrowding beyond the stadium's capacity of 48,063, and the invasion of media areas.

Some fans attempting to enter the stadium through a lower gate reported that police used tear gas to control the crowd.

Mookh Africa, the ticketing service provider for CHAN in Kenya, confirmed to BBC Sport Africa that sales for upcoming matches at the Moi International Sports Centre have been halted until further instructions are provided by the organizers.

The disciplinary and safety committees of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have initiated investigations; however, a spokesperson for Caf denied that the decision to suspend sales had been made by the organization.

"Caf is concerned about the security situation observed at Kenya games," the spokesperson stated. "Caf is engaging with the local organizing committee and the Kenyan government to address security issues."

BBC Sport Africa has reached out to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the CHAN local organizing committee for comments but has yet to receive a response.

This incident comes just days after FKF was fined $20,000 by Caf, with $2,500 of that amount suspended, due to previous crowd control and security failures during the tournament.

Kenya is co-hosting CHAN, Africa's biennial international competition for home-based players, along with Tanzania and Uganda, and security concerns at Nairobi stadiums were raised prior to the delayed tournament's kickoff.

The East African trio is also set to jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ticketing Issues Lead to Unauthorized Entries

The problems at the Kasarani Stadium on Sunday were exacerbated by ticketing issues and the eagerness of Kenyan supporters to witness their team compete against Morocco on home turf.

BBC Sport Africa observed hundreds of fans stranded outside the stadium, despite possessing what appeared to be valid tickets.

Many reported that they had unknowingly purchased duplicated tickets from individuals who had bought them in bulk and resold them to multiple fans.

Concerns are rising regarding the unregulated resale market operating near Kasarani on match days, with witnesses accusing rogue vendors of profiting just meters from the entrance.

Less than 30 minutes before kickoff, the stadium was still half empty, but as frustration grew, some supporters began to jump over the perimeter fence to gain illegal entry.

Despite a strong security presence, several breaches occurred, leading to a near stampede as fans rushed to enter.

The stadium soon appeared to be over capacity as Kenyan supporters packed in to watch Ryan Ogam score the decisive goal for coach Benni McCarthy's side. Several fans even entered the press box to secure a better view, raising safety concerns among members of the Moroccan media.

The Kasarani Stadium is scheduled to host three more matches in the tournament, including Kenya's group game against Zambia on Sunday and a quarter-final tie.

Fans have expressed their concerns regarding the ticketing process for the finals, with many claiming that some CHAN matches were marked as sold out before the advertised sales time. Supporters are urging authorities to address the issues with the online ticketing system and take action against fraudsters.

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