NAIROBI, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- The lifting of the nationwide curfew imposed to contain COVID-19 in Kenya has opened the way for fans to return to the stadium.
Record domestic league champions Gor Mahia announced on Friday evening that the government has approved supporters to cheer the team during their CAF Confederations Cup clash against Al Ahly Merowe of Sudan on Sunday in Nairobi.
"Up to 10,000 fans will be allowed to watch our second leg CAF match against Al Ahly set for Sunday at Nyayo Stadium; the Ministry of Health and Federation have already approved," the club posted on its social media pages.
Gor heads into the game having beaten their opponents 3-1 at the New Suez Stadium in Egypt one week ago in the first leg of their second round preliminary clash.
Authorities banned supporters from attending sporting events in March 2020 when COVID-19 landed in the country.
In November 2020, the suspension of sporting activity was lifted, but the fans were left out unless in special cases where the Health and Sports ministries cleared them to attend in limited numbers.
Since then, the clamor to allow fans back to stadiums has grown louder in the face of mass political rallies as the country gears for the 2022 General Elections in August 2022.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday lifted the nationwide curfew imposed to contain the pandemic.
In March, Gor blamed their poor form that saw them surrender their Kenyan Premier League title to rivals Tusker FC in the absence of their fervent supporters famously known as the "Green Army."
Earlier, the government had turned down their request to have fans attend Confederation Cup play-off first leg fixture against Napsa Stars of Zambia in Nairobi where the team lost 1-0 before crashing out of the second-tier tournament despite drawing 2-2 in the away fixture. Enditem