Kenya's CHAN 2024 quarterfinal hosting rights at risk over fan riot

Tournament co-host Kenya has been hit with a $50,000 fine by the Confederation of African Football over security and safety breaches during Sunday's African Nations Championship, or CHAN, match against Morocco. The East African country could also lose the right to host CHAN 2024 quarterfinals if spectator troubles at Nairobi's Kasanari stadium continue, the tournament organiser said.

The biggest ever African Nations Championship is well underway. Across the continent, fans are celebrating the next big step forward for African football, with singing and dancing on the stands in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

But in Nairobi, the football fever may have gotten out of hand, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which issued the co-host nation a $50,000 dollar fine following multiple security and safety breaches during Sunday's match against Morocco.

"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. Kenya was advised to increase security measures by deploying sufficient personnel within the perimeter of the stadium as well as adhering to the road closures on match days," CAF said in a statement issued in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

During the opening match on August 3rd against DR Congo, several Kenyan fans accessed Kasarani stadium unauthorised, assaulted game staff and lit a fire inside the venue.

When the Harambee Stars delivered a shock victory against pre-tournament favourites Morocco in the following match, crowds became even more unruly.

CAF found the Football Kenya Federation guilty of several security violations; overrunning of stadium gates by ticketless spectators, use of tear gas and flash grenades including reports of live ammunition being fired, and violent incidents against security personnel.

In total, CAF has fined Kenya more than $17,000 for security breaches at Kasarani stadium, which has made the Chairman of CHAN’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), Nicholas Musonye, react.   

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Musonye cautioned that new crowd troubles in Sunday’s match against Zambia could mean that Kenya "may not host the quarterfinal".

If problems persist, Kenya could also lose future hosting bids, which include the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, the Chairman noted.

”CAF has decided to fine FKF for the last three matches, which is unacceptable” , Musonye said, ”we are disappointed a bit because of the few who have violated regulations to break into the stadium and force their way through”.

As a consequence of the security issues, CAF has decided to limit the number of spectators for Sunday’s match against Zambia in Nairobi from 48,000 to 27,000, just 60 percent of stadium capacity.