Boost for Harambee Stars as CAF increases Kasarani capacity to 80 per cent for CHAN clash against Madagascar
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given the green light for the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, to host 38,400 fans when Kenya takes on Madagascar in the CHAN 2024 quarterfinal on Friday, raising capacity to 80 per cent.
The move comes as a major boost for the Harambee Stars, who only enjoyed the backing of 27,000 supporters during their 1-0 win over Zambia last weekend.
The decision follows weeks of debate over crowd control. Earlier in the tournament, Kenya’s group clash against Morocco was marred by security breaches, prompting CAF to restrict attendance to 60 per cent. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya had since defended the cap as necessary for safety, though he expressed hope that the restrictions could eventually be eased.
Kenyan authorities responded swiftly, tightening security checks, expanding crowd management systems, and rolling out nationwide campaigns on safe stadium behaviour. The number of official fan zones around Nairobi has also been expanded from nine to 13, a move aimed at easing congestion in and around Kasarani.
With these changes in place, CAF has now agreed to the increased capacity, paving the way for what is expected to be a charged atmosphere as Kenya enters the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time in 38 years.
Still, uncertainty remains over how the extra tickets will be sold. Mookh.com, the company handling online ticketing, has faced growing criticism over frequent system crashes, long queues, and reports of double bookings. Whether the firm will reopen sales for the additional 11,400 tickets or whether new distribution channels will be introduced has not been clarified.
For fans, the announcement is a relief; for the Harambee Stars, it could provide the decisive edge. With Kasarani set to roar louder than ever, the team will be counting on home support as they aim to book a historic place in the semifinals against a formidable Madagascar side—the 2022 CHAN bronze medalists.
Friday’s clash now promises not only a football spectacle but also another defining chapter in Kenya’s growing love affair with the beautiful game.
