Mugove Chigada
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT is a dream come true for the Mighty Warriors after the Confederation of African Football yesterday gave ZIFA the green light to have at least 10 000 fans at the National Sports Stadium (NSS) for the second leg of the Olympic qualifier against Malawi.
The conditions will also apply for Scottland’s CAF Champions League home match.
The development comes after CAF had earlier imposed a provisional ban on fans at the NSS following the death of a fan during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
ZIFA managed to take corrective measures for the Young Warriors game against Mauritius days later, but the damage from the Warriors game had already negatively affected the association.
The Mighty Warriors, who lost the first leg 2-0 to Malawi on Friday, were set to be the first victims at a time when they desperately needed home support to overturn the result in the reverse fixture.
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi last week said he was set to engage the CAF leadership on the sidelines of the organisation’s strategy meeting in Cape Verde.
In an exclusive interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub, he indicated the engagement would be multifaceted, given the association had just started hosting matches at the stadium after five years, hence the lack of experience.
For that reason, Magwizi said, the engagement would focus not only on the provisional ban, but also on learning and consulting on a number of issues.
Yesterday, the engagement yielded a reprieve for teams playing international games.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) informs supporters and all stakeholders that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted exceptional, strictly conditional authorisation to admit a maximum of 10 000 spectators per match at the National Sports Stadium for the following fixtures: Zimbabwe vs Malawi: Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers, 13 October 2026; Scottland FC vs Atlético Petróleos de Luanda: CAF Champions League, provisionally scheduled for 17 October 2026, subject to confirmation of the official fixture date,” ZIFA said in a statement.
“ZIFA reiterates its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the supporter who tragically lost their life. The safety of spectators, players, officials and all match personnel remains our foremost priority.
“Going forward, stadium gates will open five hours before kick-off. Supporters are strongly encouraged to arrive early to allow adequate time for security screening, orderly entry and seating.”
The association said it must follow the guidelines in detail.
“Admission will be strictly controlled, attendance will not exceed the authorised limit, and spectators will occupy only designated, approved areas. Ticketing, entry and parking arrangements will be announced separately ahead of the matches,” said ZIFA.
“ZIFA maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards hooliganism, violence, intimidation, vandalism, forced entry and any behaviour that threatens public safety. Offenders will be refused entry, removed from the stadium or banned from attending matches, as appropriate. Supporters must comply with instructions from the police, stewards and match officials, keep access routes and emergency exits clear and promptly report unsafe behaviour.”
One of the issues that caused delays before the Warriors game was the congestion at Gate 2, which most fans used to enter the stadium.
“Enhanced measures will cover crowd management, access control, security deployment, medical services and emergency response. A CAF safety and security officer will monitor and assess their implementation,” ZIFA said.
“Failure to meet CAF’s conditions may result in further restrictions or withdrawal of the authorisation. ZIFA sincerely thanks the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, for the formal guarantees provided to CAF, its continued commitment to the development of sport and its support for safer sporting facilities. We also acknowledge the cooperation and dedication of the security services, medical teams, emergency responders and stadium authorities.”
