Hundreds of Kenyan football fans forced their way into Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, March 23, moments before the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier between Harambee Stars and Gabon.
The drama unfolded after Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had earlier announced that all 22,900 tickets for the historic home qualifier had been sold out, effectively locking out additional supporters. However, that did not deter crowds from gathering outside the stadium, hoping to find a way in.
According to footage obtained by The Star, scores of fans stormed one of the stadium’s entry points, breaking through a security gate in a chaotic push to access the match venue. Security officers were reportedly overwhelmed by the swelling crowds, with insufficient ticket-scanning stations further complicating the situation.
Inside the 30,000-seater stadium, tension and excitement built up as thousands of fans scrambled to secure seats well ahead of the 4:00 PM kickoff. While many entertained themselves with song and dance, a section of fans took advantage of the gathering to chant anti-government slogans—a trend that has become common in large public events across the country.
Although 22,900 tickets had been sold, the stadium was expected to have around 5,000 empty seats. However, the surge of non-ticket holders breached the protocol, likely exceeding the safe spectator capacity set under Confederation of African Football (CAF) guidelines.
CAF rules mandate strict crowd control measures, including monitoring entry flow, functional seating, safe evacuation plans, and emergency response readiness. Sunday’s events raised serious safety concerns, with the possibility of overcrowding posing a major risk.
This chaotic turn of events comes as Harambee Stars seek a critical win against Gabon to keep their hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 alive.
