Admin
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kenya has banned fans from entering stadiums with noise-making items such as vuvuzelas, whistles, megaphones, and loudspeakers.
The restriction, which takes effect when the 2024 CHAN begins on August 2, also applies to other stadiums in co-host nations Tanzania and Uganda.
The competition will run until August 30, drawing teams and fans from across the continent to five major venues spread over the three East African countries.
Two of the tournament’s most prominent venues, Moi International Sports Centre (55,000 capacity) and Nyayo National Stadium (18,000 capacity) in Nairobi, will host Group A clashes featuring hosts Kenya, as well as Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia.
But fans attending games will have to make do without some of the items that usually fuel the electric African football atmosphere.
From the LOC’s latest guidelines, 13 categories of items are officially prohibited within stadium grounds. While the expected inclusions, firearms, explosives, and sharp objects, appear for security reasons, the addition of cheering instruments like vuvuzelas and whistles has surprised many.
Also off-limits are helmets, signal-blocking devices, illegal drugs, and politically or religiously offensive banners.
Packaged food brought from outside the venue is barred as well, although fans will be allowed to buy and consume edibles sold within the stadium premises.
“We want to create a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for all spectators,” a senior LOC official said. “Some of these items, while common at football matches, have caused disruptions and security concerns in previous tournaments. We’re simply putting the fans’ safety first.”
The LOC emphasised that the decision is part of a broader effort to raise the standards of matchday experience and crowd control as East Africa co-hosts its first CHAN tournament.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles B are drawn in Group D and will play all their matches in Tanzania. The team faces a tough challenge against defending champions Senegal, as well as Sudan and Congo.
The post CHAN 2024: Kenya Bans Vuvuzelas, Whistles, Loudspeakers From Stadiums appeared first on Naija News.
