The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has unveiled a plan to cater to fans who missed out on CHAN 2024 tickets, following the sell-out of the Kenya vs Zambia match.

FKF CEO Hussein Mohamed, who spoke during a press conference on Tuesday, August 12, revealed that the federation will set up football fan zones for supporters without tickets, with the venues to be announced soon.

“We are also making arrangements to set up official fan zones where supporters who might not have an opportunity to come to the stadium can watch the Harambee Stars’ final group match against Zambia this Sunday, August 17, in a safe and controlled environment.

“Details of these exciting fan zones will be shared shortly as we continue with the necessary preparations,” read part of the statement.

In football, fan festivals — sometimes called fan zones or fan parks — are large, organised public gatherings where supporters can watch live matches on big screens, enjoy entertainment, and take part in interactive activities.

They’re usually set up in open spaces such as parks, city squares, or stadium precincts, and are designed to give people who don’t have match tickets a shared, immersive experience. Organisers often bring in food stalls, beverage stands, merchandise outlets, and live music or DJ sets to create a carnival-like atmosphere.

These festivals are especially popular during major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euros, or continental competitions such as AFCON and CHAN.

Further, they serve as both a safety measure — by concentrating large crowds in controlled environments — and a cultural celebration, allowing fans to connect and express their passion for the sport together.

In many cases, they also become a tourism boost for host cities, drawing international visitors who want to be part of the excitement even without entering the stadium.

In the meantime, Kenyan fans who had already bought tickets to Harambee Stars’ final Group A game against Zambia have been urged to arrive at the Kasarani Stadium 5 hours before kickoff, the organising committee has said.

On Tuesday, August 12, the Local Organising Committee urged Kenyan fans to arrive early for matches and have their e-tickets ready on their mobile phones for swift verification.

The advisory comes after the August 10 chaos, where some spectators entered the stadium without tickets. The committee stressed that tickets should only be bought from the authorised online vendor and that only e-tickets — not printed copies — would be accepted for entry.

Committee chair Nicholas Musonye also called on fans to adhere to all security protocols and follow directions from event officials at all times.

“Despite the unprecedented success on and off the field of play, we must address recent unfortunate incidents of crowd trouble that were seen in some of the matches at the Kasarani Stadium,” the statement read.

“To ensure the safety of all attendees and the smooth running and success of the tournament, you are encouraged to arrive at the stadium on Match Day at least five hours before kick-off, purchase match tickets only from the authorised online vendor and follow all security guidelines and instructions at all times,” it further directed.

Musonye said the measures are aimed at guaranteeing the safety of all spectators while ensuring the tournament runs smoothly and successfully.

The August 10 chaos caused damage to facilities at the recently renovated Moi International Sports Centre, prompting the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to issue several sanctions.

Among them, CAF capped Kasarani’s capacity at 27,000 — 60 per cent of its full capacity, restricted entry to e-ticket holders only, and instructed the Local Organising Committee and the government to roll out a public media campaign to reinforce safety protocols and entry guidelines.