Football fans attending the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, are raising concerns over hunger and discomfort following a strict ban on food and drinks inside the stadium.
The prohibition—part of a broader list of restricted items issued by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and enforced locally by FUFA—is intended to enhance stadium cleanliness, ensure security, and minimize disruptions during the tournament.
However, fans say it is causing unnecessary suffering especially for those who spend hours at the venue without access to refreshments.
“This is inhumane. We pay for tickets, sit in the sun for hours, and yet we are not allowed to carry even a bottle of water. It’s torture,” Enos Asiimwe, a Uganda cranes fan said.
Some fans, including those with medical conditions such as ulcers, diabetes, and low blood pressure, expressed serious concern that the ban could endanger their health.
Many described the environment inside the stadium as unbearable, with no food vendors allowed and no clear provisions for those who need nourishment.
According to FUFA, the ban on food and drinks is meant to prevent littering, avoid the throwing of items onto the pitch, and maintain a controlled environment.
The list of prohibited items also includes, sound-making instruments like vuvuzelas, whistles, and drums, firearms, firecrackers, smoke flares, and laser lights and attire with political or divisive religious messages.
The food and beverage prohibition at CHAN 2024 venues stems from CAF’s broader safety and security protocols. Stadiums across the three host countries—Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania—have implemented bans on outside food and drink, except where medically necessary or for infants.
Additional restrictions support these goals, covering items such as noisemakers, banners with political or religious messaging, weapons, and disruptive electronic devices.
With more CHAN fixtures scheduled in the coming days, fans are calling on organizers to either relax the restrictions or provide affordable and accessible food and drink options within the stadium.
Without such adjustments, what should be a celebration of African football risks becoming a test of endurance for the very fans it hopes to inspire.
