NAIROBI – Football fans in Nairobi and beyond will not be left out when Harambee Stars face Madagascar in the quarter-finals of the Africa Nations Championship on Friday, 22 August.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya confirmed on Monday that six official fan zones will remain open for supporters without tickets to the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The fan parks were first introduced for Kenya’s decisive group-stage clash against Zambia. According to Mr Mvurya, they offered a safe and lively way for thousands to watch the game together.
“I am proud to report that both at Kasarani and across fan zones, there were no incidents of disorder or breaches of CAF regulations,” the minister said in a statement. “The exemplary conduct showed that Kenya can host football at the highest standards of order, safety and respect.”
The designated venues include Uhuru Park, Kibera DC Grounds, Lucky Summer in Ngomongo, Dandora Stadium, Utalii Stima Club and Jacaranda Grounds.
Kenya’s 2–1 victory over Zambia on Sunday secured the top spot in Group A and guaranteed that the quarter-final will be played on home soil. A draw or defeat would have seen the fixture moved to Tanzania.
Ticketing remains a point of uncertainty. For the Zambia match, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) capped attendance at 27,000 and slashed prices by 40 percent after earlier sanctions. Mr Mvurya did not clarify whether that restriction remains in force for Friday’s game, though he urged fans with tickets to “fill the stadium with unwavering support”.
For those who cannot get inside Kasarani, the fan zones are intended to offer the next best thing. Organisers have promised screens, security and family-friendly spaces to create what officials describe as a “stadium atmosphere” outside the stadium walls.
The Harambee Stars, unbeaten so far, have thrived under the noise and colour of their home crowd. Their performances have lit up what was widely seen as the “Group of Death”, setting up a quarter-final encounter that could prove decisive for the country’s hopes in the tournament.
If Kenya advance to the semi-finals, the journey will continue abroad. The last-four ties are scheduled for Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Namboole Stadium in Uganda. The final, however, is due to return to Nairobi’s Kasarani, ensuring one more night on home turf.
