Hundreds denied entry to Kasarani amid CHAN 2024 ticket scam

Hundreds of Kenyan football fans were left frustrated on Sunday after being denied entry into the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, despite holding valid-looking tickets.

They were among the thousands of fans who had turned up to watch and support Kenya as it faced Morocco in a highly anticipated clash.

But excitement quickly turned into frustration and outrage as many supporters were denied entry after their tickets were flagged as already scanned.

The affected fans say they were duped by individuals who had purchased tickets in bulk, only to resell the same tickets to multiple unsuspecting buyers.

“Kuna watu ambao wanatuuzia tickets bandia…” said Anthony Ochieng’, a fan.

Another fan, John Ngui, added: “Kuna watu wanaenda wanabuy tickets mingi na hawatokei game.”

Victims of the scam reported paying anywhere between Ksh.300 and Ksh.1,000 for the fake passes, all in a desperate bid to witness the crucial group-stage encounter live.

Concerns are now mounting over the unchecked ticket resale market around Kasarani, particularly on match days. Many of those locked out pointed fingers at rogue vendors operating just outside the stadium.

As desperation grew, chaos erupted when a section of fans resorted to jumping over the perimeter fence to gain illegal access to the venue.

Despite a heavy security presence, several individuals managed to breach the stadium from one end, causing a near stampede and raising fresh fears of sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The breach comes just days after CAF fined the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Ksh.2.5 million for crowd control failures and warned of stricter penalties should similar incidents occur during the ongoing tournament, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Still, the electric atmosphere returned as the national team bus arrived, greeted by jubilant fans who chanted and waved in support. Their faith in Harambee Stars was rewarded with a thrilling performance and a crucial three-point win over Morocco.

With one group match remaining — a showdown against Zambia next Sunday — anticipation is already building.

Fans are now urging authorities to streamline online ticketing and clamp down on fraudsters to ensure smooth access to the final group fixture.