Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed and Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman Nicholas Musonye have called on Harambee Stars supporters to observe discipline and adhere to ticketing rules.
They also urged fans to cooperate with security agencies ahead of Sunday’s decisive Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) group match against Zambia at Kasarani Stadium.
Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi, Mohammed lauded the fans for their passionate support but warned that recent incidents of crowd trouble could tarnish Kenya’s reputation and cost the country the opportunity to host future matches.
“We value the passion of our fans, but it must be expressed within the rules of the game. Continued security breaches could lead to severe sanctions, including losing the right to host upcoming fixtures,” he cautioned.
He underscored that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has already fined Kenya on multiple occasions during the tournament.
Further, Mohammed stressed that only e-tickets purchased from the official online platform will be valid for entry and that no physical tickets will be available to the general public.
He further urged supporters to avoid unauthorised vendors and, if unable to secure a valid ticket, to just watch the match from home or official fan zones.
Similarly, the FKF President advised fans to arrive at least five hours before kick-off and to follow all directions from event stewards and security personnel.
Addressing concerns over rapid ticket sell-outs and bulk purchases, Mohammed said FKF was working with its ticketing partner to limit the number of tickets per buyer.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged overwhelming demand for match attendance, with fixtures not even involving the national team attracting capacity crowds.
“The Harambee Stars are giving their all on the pitch. Let us match their discipline in the stands so we can continue to grow as a football nation,” appealed Mohammed.
Musonye, on his part, dismissed claims that the government had purchased or distributed large quantities of tickets, clarifying that public seating is sold exclusively online, with only a small number of complimentary tickets given to invited guests.
He also addressed security concerns raised by CAF, denying that police had used live ammunition and explaining that officers had been instructed to avoid confrontation.
However, the Chairman noted that more than 1,000 ticketless fans breached security to enter the Morocco match after overwhelming police, who had been directed not to use force to prevent casualties.
“We are asking our youth to cooperate and avoid confrontations with the police. We want Kenyans to enjoy the game in a safe and controlled environment,” implored Musonye, assuring that strengthened security measures would be in place for the upcoming match.
Meanwhile, the two officials called on the media to assist in disseminating accurate information on ticketing and safety arrangements, urging Kenyans to protect the team’s hard-won progress.
They called on supporters to be ambassadors of the country’s football image in order to ensure that the tournament leaves a positive legacy for future events.
By Naif Rashid
