Tanzanian govt allays fears of Kenyans buying all tickets for Morocco match

Arnold Ngure 21st August, 2025 08:48 PM

The government of Tanzania has dismissed reports that Kenyan football fans have bought all the tickets for the quarter-final match between Tanzania and Morocco at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Friday, August 22, 2025.

Speaking during a press conference in Tanzania on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Tanzania’s government spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, dismissed the reports as false, urging Tanzanian fans to turn up in their numbers to support their national team, which will be playing against the formidable Atlas Lions of Morocco.

“Jamaa zetu wale ambao ata mechi ya kesho haiwahusu wameanza vimaneno maneno na wameanza kamdomo kama vile mechi inawahusu,” Msigwa said.

Noisy neighbours

(Our neighbours have begun their rant about a match that barely concerns them; they have become so talkative.)

Tanzanian fans at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium during a past match. PHOTO/https://web.facebook.com/gersonmsigwatz

“Nataka niwatoe hofu Watanzania. Story ya kuwa wamenunua viti vyote vya uwanja wa Benjamin Mkapa na wamemaliza ticket zote sio kweli.”

(I would like to assure Tanzanians that reports of Kenyan fans buying up all tickets at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium are false.)

Show up

Msigwa equally urged Tanzanian fans to show up at the Stadium, noting that there were still seats to accommodate them at the 60,000-capacity stadium.

“Njooni uwanjani mtaingia; serikali imechukua hatua zote muhimu ya kuhakikisha uwanja kesho unapendeza,” Msigwa urged.

Adding on to the banter between Kenya and Tanzania, Msigwa stated that the Kenyan fans have become mouthy out of their inherent fear of the Tanzania national team.

Tanzania government spokesman Gerson Msigwa speaks during a past interview. PHOTO/https://web.facebook.com/gersonmsigwatz

“Nafasi zipo msiingie unyonge na wanapiga maneno mengi kwa sababu wanatuogopa na wanatuhofia; lakini sisi tunasemaje, kama inanyesha, na inyeshe,” Msigwa said.

Kenya will open the CHAN 2024 quarter finals with the first match against Madagascar at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 5:00 pm, while Tanzania will face Morocco at 8:00 pm.

Winners of these crucial matches will book a spot for the semi-finals as Uganda will face Senegal on Saturday, August 23, 2025, and Sudan will face Algeria the same day at 8:00 pm.

With a youthful and energetic team and a motivated coach to boot, Harambee Stars are staring at a real chance of winning the CHAN continental title if they maintain their composure in the remaining games.