The Confederation of African Football has stepped in to tackle worsening security breaches during Harambee Stars’ African Nations Championship fixtures, imposing new crowd-control measures after fresh match-day protocol violations on Sunday.
In a statement issued Monday evening, CAF announced that attendance at the 48,000-capacity Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, will be capped at 27,000 spectators for Sunday’s Group A clash between Kenya and Zambia.
Thermal Tickets Banned
According to the continental body, only fans with electronic tickets will gain entry, as the use of thermal tickets has now been outlawed.
“We trust these measures will be applied swiftly to protect competition’s integrity, ensure fan safety, and uphold confidence in Kenya’s commitment to the tournament,” CAF said, warning that Kenya’s home matches could be moved away from Kasarani if breaches persist.
The crackdown comes in the wake of incidents during Kenya’s 1-0 victory over two-time champions Morocco on August 10.
Despite playing the entire second half with 10 men, the debutants claimed a famous win, topping Group A with seven points and needing just a draw against winless Zambia to reach the quarterfinals.
$20,000 Fine for Security Failures
The latest measures follow a fine of nearly $20,000 imposed last week on Kenya’s football federation for security failures during the 1-0 win over DR Congo in the August 3 opener.
CAF’s latest investigation uncovered serious lapses, including overrun stadium gates, restricted areas accessed by ticketless fans and holders of government-issued physical tickets, and a collapse of security at exit points.
Breaches of the perimeter fence reportedly allowed thousands without tickets to flood into the venue.
CAF Condemns Use of Force
The governing body also voiced concern over the deployment of tear gas and flash grenades, reports of live ammunition being discharged near fans and staff, and violent acts such as stone-throwing at security forces.
Other issues cited included dangerous vehicle movement in fan zones, slow police response, missing medical incident reports despite injuries, inadequate communication tools for security teams, and the absence of CCTV coverage at key entry points.
