The government has confirmed there will be designated fan zones on Friday, August 22, when the Harambee Stars take on Madagascar in the quarter-final of the Africa Nations Championships.
In a press statement, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya acknowledged the success of six fan zones, which were set up for viewers to get the stadium feel while watching Kenya's final Group A clash against Zambia on Sunday.
"I am proud to report that both at Kasarani and across fan zones, there were no incidents of disorder or breaches of CAF regulations," Mvurya noted.
"The exemplary conduct across both the stadium and the fan zones demonstrated that Kenya can host and enjoy football at the highest standards of order, safety and respect."
For the Harambee Stars vs Zambia game, tickets were slashed by nearly 40 per cent after a sanction by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), with only 27,000 fans allowed inside the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Kenya's victory against Zambia effectively secured the top spot in Group A, ensuring the quarter-final will be played within the country. Any other result in that game would have resulted in the tie being played in Tanzania.
Ahead of the game, Mvurya confirmed that the six fan zones - at Uhuru Park, Lucky Summer (Ngomongo Area, behind Kasarani Stadium), Dandora Stadium, Dandora Stadium, Utalii Stima Club, Jacaranda Grounds and Kibera's DC grounds – would still be in place for fans who will miss tickets to attend the match at the Stadium.
While he urged fans with tickets to 'fill the stadium', the CS did not explicitly confirm whether the sanction by CAF limiting access to 27,000 fans was still in place.
"As Harambee Stars advance to the quarter finals to face Madagascar, I call upon Kenyans once again to turn up in numbers, those with tickets to fill the stadium with unwavering support while the rest of us rally from designated fan zones, standing behind our national team," the statement went on.
Having played all their matches at the Kasarani Stadium, the Harambee Stars have enjoyed immense support from the home crowd - a factor which has helped them to an unbeaten run and a top spot in a group largely perceived as the "Group of Death".
In the event Kenya advances to the last four of CHAN 2024, a majority of Kenyans will have to watch the game from fan zones or from the comfort of their homes since the semis will take place in Dar es Salaam and the Namboole Stadium in Uganda, respectively.
The final, however, will come back to Kenya to take place at the Moi International Sports Centre.
