The atmosphere at the Kasarani Stadium proved electric as Kenya took Madagascar head on in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarterfinal fixture in Nairobi on Friday evening.

Fans trooped into the hallowed football cathedral in their colours and numbers as early as 10 am.

Despite the ‘lack’ of tickets that had been a hue and cry in the course of the week, the stadium was fairly full to the brim.

The spectators poured in their splendor, ready to partake in the crucial tie that was a do or die for the country.

Before gaining entrance into the newly refurbished sporting arena, the football enthusiasts had to unveil their match coupons which were scanned and verified by the keen ticket marshals.

Those without the entry passes were stopped two kilometers away from the stadium by hawk eyed policemen and the General Service Unit who rode on horseback.

Ticket-less individuals were not allowed anywhere near the stadium perimeters, this was meant  to avert the mayhem witnessed in the group stage clash that pitted Kenya against Morocco at the location a fortnight ago.

A variety of ambulances were on standby, with ready medical personnel to save lives just incase any need arose.

The roads leading to Kasarani were all closed-  at Muthaiga from town and at Soysambu from Thika, to ease passage and entry into the sporting arena.

This proved a blessing in disguise for boda boda riders and taxi drivers who seized the chance to make a kill by ferrying spectators to zones that were closer to the stadium.

Also not left behind, in the jackpot striking spree, were the food vendors who were strategically placed in locations to offer hot and sumptuous meals to the revellers that were thronging Kasarani in all directions.

Successful fans who had passed all the dragnets of labyrinths and mazes set up by the policemen, that included a thorough screening on the stadium entrance where paraphernalias like water bottles, whistles and vuvuzelas were confiscated, flooded the stadium in their tapestry.

The fans painted Kasarani red and white as they supported Harambee Stars with all their might and power.

‘Eeh…aah, eeh.. ahh’ they screamed and cheered with every blade and with every touch of the ball that every Kenyan player made on the pitch.

Phrases like ‘Assistant Boyfriend’ and  ‘Can you Marry Me, I have Four Kids’ could be read on the back of some of the jerseys donned by the fans who lit up the stadium and made the atmosphere boisterous, and full of fire.

The spectators thumped their feets, gyrated to the half time reggae music crooned by the Dj and competed in unleashing their latest dance moves in town as the crunch tie progresses.

Makeshift cheering squads were in all corners of the stadium, inventing frenzied antics like the beautiful mexican waves and coming up with other onomatopoeiaic rhymes to scare away the determined Malagasy opponents.

And of course, the occasion could not have been complete without the selfie gangs and content creators who chanced on the match to make variety of videos and reels that will be used to litter the TikTok timelines in the course of the weekend.

“Kenya will win this match, my prediction is 3-0,” Joseph Ogenga , a staunch Harambee Stars fan from Kasarani gave out his prediction during the adrenaline filled encounter.

“Mine is 1-0, that Madagascar custodian Michel Toldo will not be a walk in the park on their goal mouth, you know he has bagged three Man of The Match awards so far in this tournament, I see him being a piece of work to tackle in this fixture,” Steve Omondi , a spectator from  Donholm highlighted.

In contrary, Immanuel Makundi, a Tanzanian fan badly wanted Harambee Stars to lose to Madagascar.

“I want Kenya to be beaten like a drum, and if they are not, then we are waiting for them in the finals. It is high time Tanzania taught Kenya a lesson,” Makundi stressed.

Away from Makundi’s rants, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki led other dignitaries to watch the match at the Kasarani VVIP pavilion.

Harambee Stars players have confirmed that the President Ruto’s pledge of Sh 1 million per victory per player, which was upgraded to Sh 2.5 Million in the tournament, elated their spirits in the camp.

At the end of the crunch battle at Kasarani, Harambee failed to contain Madagascar, losing to the visitors in penalty shootout which ended their dream of  swanky three bedroom houses, courtesy of President Ruto’s pledge, and a spot in the semi finals set for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Tuesday.