CAF cuts Kasarani fan capacity over security concerns

By Newsflash Writer

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed strict new measures on Kenya’s home matches at Kasarani Stadium, including a drastic cut in fan attendance, following repeated security breaches during recent fixtures involving the Harambee Stars.

In a strongly worded directive to the Local Organising Committee (LOC), on Monday, August 11, 2025, CAF announced that stadium capacity for upcoming matches would be capped at 60 per cent—equivalent to 27,000 tickets—in a bid to avert further crowd control failures and safety risks.

The decision follows a series of alarming security lapses during Kenya’s home games at the 60,000-seater facility, which CAF says have persisted despite prior warnings and sanctions.

The latest incident happened on Sunday, when fans broke one of the gates and entered the stadium during the Kenya and Morocco match.

There have been cases of fake tickets being sold to enthusiastic fans.

Catalogue of security failures

CAF outlined a catalogue of incidents that prompted the sanctions. These included the overrunning of stadium gates by ticketless fans and even some holding physical tickets distributed by the government, breaches of the perimeter fence, and loss of control at exit points.

A major crowd control failure at Ngomongo roundabout allowed uncontrolled entry through multiple gates.

Security forces were also accused of using tear gas and flash grenades near spectators and staff, causing panic, while violent incidents such as stone-throwing at security personnel were reported.

The continental body further cited inadequate police response despite repeated calls for intervention, unsafe vehicle movement in spectator areas, and the absence of medical incident reports despite injuries. It also noted insufficient communication tools and a lack of CCTV coverage at critical entry points.

“These incidents present unacceptable risks to spectators, staff, and the integrity of the tournament,” CAF stated.

Stricter entry rules and compliance push

In addition to slashing capacity, CAF has ordered that entry be strictly limited to holders of electronic tickets, barring the use of thermal paper tickets. This is meant to curb counterfeit ticket use and improve traceability of attendees.

The LOC and the government have also been directed to launch a public accountability and compliance campaign to raise awareness on safety protocols and entry regulations. This will involve public messaging reinforcing the importance of orderly access and adherence to stadium guidelines.

CAF stressed that these measures are non-negotiable and require full and immediate compliance. Failure to implement them could attract heavier sanctions, including the possibility of moving future Harambee Stars home matches to alternative venues outside Kenya.

The capacity reduction is expected to significantly affect the atmosphere at Kasarani, where a full house has often played a key role in energising the national team. For Harambee Stars supporters, the restrictions mean fewer fans will have access to tickets, potentially driving up demand and prices in the secondary market.

While some fans have welcomed the safety emphasis, others have expressed frustration, arguing that the lapses are the result of poor crowd management rather than excessive supporter behaviour.

Football analysts warn that the reduced attendance could dampen the morale of the national side in crucial qualifiers. “The noise and energy from a packed Kasarani can be a game-changer. Cutting that by almost half is bound to have an impact,” one analyst noted.

CAF’s move signals a hardline approach to stadium safety, with the body unwilling to compromise on crowd management standards in the wake of several deadly stadium tragedies across Africa in recent years.

The letter from CAF serves as both a warning and a last chance for Kenya to demonstrate it can host large-scale football events safely.

“We trust these measures will be applied swiftly to protect the competition’s integrity, ensure fan safety, and uphold confidence in Kenya’s commitment to the tournament,” CAF concluded.