Kenyans brave cold to back Harambee Stars at CHAN opener
Sports
By
Mike Kihaki
| Aug 03, 2025
Thousands of Kenyans from all walks of life defied the Sunday morning cold to fill the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, casting aside political differences and daily struggles to unite behind the Harambee Stars.
Draped in the national colours, red, black, green, and white, fans streamed into the stadium well before kickoff.
Some arrived on foot, waving flags, others squeezed into matatus or clung to boda bodas, their voices raised in chants of hope and national pride.
By 8am, the stadium’s precincts were already packed.
Despite biting winds, long queues, and tight security checks, the mood remained jubilant.
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Organizers confirmed that all 44,000 tickets for the high-stakes opening match between Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo had sold out by Friday.
The sell-out crowd was more than just a show of support; it was a powerful display of national unity. Despite the country’s ongoing political tensions, Kenyans showed that football remains a shared passion capable of bridging divides.
“When Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya came together to co-host CHAN, they showed what unity of purpose can achieve. Now it’s our turn to stand together and back our boys," said Maureen Atieno, who travelled from Kisumu to witness the spectacle.
The symbolism of the CHAN 2024 co-hosting between the three East African nations has struck a chord.
For many, it represents the power of regional cooperation at a time when division seems all too common.
Online, the hashtag #StarsMustWin has dominated conversations. From market stalls to boardrooms, the talk has shifted to team lineups, tactical expectations, and the shared dream of Kenya making it to the CHAN finals.
Even long-time critics of the national team appear to be swept up in the wave of optimism.
“Politics divides us. But football? Football brings us together,” said Wycliffe Mugo, 35, proudly draped in the Kenyan flag and a Harambee Stars jersey.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from or who you voted for. We are all behind the Stars.”