The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed that ticket sales for the Kenya versus Madagascar clash would open on Tuesday, August 19, starting at midday.

The eagerly awaited CHAN 2024 quarterfinal match was to see tickets released at noon, giving fans across the country a chance to secure their spot at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, for what is expected to be an electrifying showdown set for this Friday, August 22.

Supporters, however, will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets. CAF has raised regular ticket prices by Ksh50, moving them up from Ksh200 to Ksh250, though the same was not immediately effected on the silver category, which has been going for Ksh 500.

While this move might catch fans by surprise, Viral Tea has learnt that this is a normal occurrence for football tournaments, with the knockout stages bringing more intensity, more attention and bigger stakes all the way to the finals. Let’s dive into this:

Why Ticket Prices Go Up After the Group Stage

Ticket prices usually rise after the group stage and climb even higher as a tournament moves closer to the finals, mainly because demand increases significantly.

Early matches often don’t attract as much attention since the stakes are lower and some teams may not have a strong fanbase. Once the knockout rounds begin, every game becomes a matter of survival, which draws more fans. With limited seats available and a surge in interest, prices naturally go up.

Scarcity also plays a huge role. As the tournament advances, the number of matches decreases, meaning fewer opportunities for fans to watch live action. This makes every ticket more valuable.

By the time the semifinals and finals arrive, the games represent the last and most important fixtures of the competition, so scarcity alone drives prices through the roof.

Another reason is the quality of the matchups. Knockout stages often feature the strongest teams and the biggest stars, creating must-watch games. Fans are far more willing to pay premium prices to see football giants face off in high-stakes scenarios compared to less significant group-stage fixtures.

The hype and prestige around the final, in particular, turn it into a “bucket-list” experience, where people justify spending much more than they normally would for a ticket.

In this case, Kenya is in the driving seat towards the final and is up against her neighbours in the East African Community (EAC), that is Uganda and Tanzania, as well as the likes of Algeria, Madagascar and Morocco, the latter of which Harambee Stars beat in the group stage.

Organisers are also strategic about pricing. Group-stage tickets are often kept relatively affordable to ensure stadiums fill up and to create momentum.

Once the tournament reaches the later rounds, they capitalise on the guaranteed demand by raising prices. Fans who have followed their teams all the way, or neutrals who want to witness history, are more likely to pay whatever it takes at that point.

On top of official pricing, the secondary market and scalpers massively influence ticket costs. Scalpers buy tickets early and resell them at inflated prices once they know demand will spike.

In many cases, resale platforms and individual sellers take advantage of fans’ desperation to attend big matches, pushing prices way beyond face value. This creates an additional layer of price inflation that makes finals and semifinals tickets feel even more expensive.

For this case, however, CAF imposed strict regulations on match attendance, requiring controlled online ticketing to curb overcrowding and security breaches. Physical tickets were outlawed before Kenya’s 1-0 win against Zambia.

In short, the rise in ticket prices is driven by a mix of supply-and-demand economics, scarcity, emotional hype, and resale market practices. By the time the tournament reaches its climax, tickets have transformed from simple entry passes into high-value commodities.

The Harambee Stars, buoyed by their recent strong performances, are aiming to make history with a first-ever appearance in the CHAN semifinals.

Although ticket sales were set to open at noon, fans trying to buy tickets through the official platform have encountered major technical issues. At the time of publishing, Viral Tea‘s numerous attempts to access the portal were met with a “Gateway time-out” error, suggesting the system buckled under heavy traffic.

The glitch has left thousands of hopeful supporters unable to book their seats, with many venting their frustration on social media over the crash during the critical launch period.

Screengrab of our latest attempt to access the Mookh ticketing website for CHAN 2024 on August 19, 2025.