Crowd Disorder At CHAN Raises Concerns In Kenya

Kelvin Kimathi, BBC Sport Africa, Nairobi

Ticket sales for some African Nations Championship (CHAN) matches in Nairobi have been suspended after chaotic scenes overshadowed Kenya’s victory over Morocco on Sunday.

The Harambee Stars produced a shock by beating the pre-tournament favourites 1-0 at a packed Kasarani Stadium, yet the result was marred by disorder both inside and outside the venue before and during the match.

The security breaches included a broken gate, fans entering without tickets, overcrowding beyond the 48,063 capacity and the invasion of areas reserved for media.

Some fans who were trying to access the stadium from a lower gate have accused the police of using tear gas.

Mookh Africa, CHAN’s ticketing service provider in Kenya, confirmed to BBC Sport Africa that sales for upcoming fixtures at the stadium, officially known as the Moi International Sports Centre, have been halted until organisers issue further instructions.

The disciplinary and safety committees of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have launched investigations but a spokesperson for the continental game’s governing body denied that it had taken the decision to suspend sales.

“Caf is concerned about the security situation witnessed at Kenya games,” the spokesperson said.

“Caf is engaging with the local organising committee and the (Kenyan) government to address security issues.”

BBC Sport Africa has contacted the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the CHAN local organising committee for comment but is yet to receive a response.

The incident came only days after FKF was fined $20,000 by Caf,, external with $2,500 of that sum suspended, for earlier crowd control and security failures at the tournament.

Kenya is co-hosting CHAN, African football’s biennial international competition for home-based players, alongside Tanzania and Uganda – and stadium security issues in Nairobi were highlighted before the delayed tournament kicked off.

Ticketing Issues Spark Illegal Entries

The problems at the Kasarani on Sunday stemmed from ticketing issues and the eagerness of Kenyan supporters to see their side take on Morocco on home soil.

BBC Sport Africa saw hundreds of supporters left stranded outside the stadium despite holding what appeared to be valid tickets.

Several said they had unknowingly bought duplicated tickets from individuals who purchased in bulk and resold them to multiple fans.

Concerns are growing over the unregulated resale market operating around Kasarani on match days, with witnesses accusing rogue vendors of profiteering just metres from the gates.

Less than 30 minutes before kick-off the stadium was still half empty but, as frustration mounted, some supporters began jumping over the perimeter fence to gain illegal entry.

Despite a strong security presence, several breaches occurred from one end of the venue, sparking a near stampede.

The ground then appeared to be over capacity as Kenya fans crammed in to watch Ryan Ogam score the decisive goal for Benni McCarthy‘s side, and several Harambee Stars fans entered the press box in order to secure a vantage point, with members of the Moroccan media concerned for their safety.

The Kasarani is set to host three more matches at the tournament, including Kenya’s group game against Zambia on Sunday and one of the quarter-final ties.

Fans have raised concerns about the ticketing process at the finals, with many claiming some CHAN matches were marked as sold out before the advertised sales time.

Supporters are urging authorities to address issues with the online ticketing system and crack down on fraudsters.