Tawah Munthali
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Warriors have received a major boost for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) granted ZIFA their wish to increase fan attendance at the National Sports Stadium.
A total of 25 000 fans will now be allowed at NSS starting with the Warriors reverse fixture against Equatorial Guinea on November 16.
The decision marks a significant relief for Zimbabwean football after CAF had temporarily restricted attendance to 10 000 following a stampede outside the venue and pitch invasion for the game against DR Congo.
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi welcomed CAF’s decision, describing it as a positive development for local football.
“After the Scottland and Petro Luanda match as well as the Mighty Warriors’ encounter against Malawi, CAF was satisfied with the protocols we had put in place,” said Magwizi.
“We then had to approach them again, requesting for an increment from the 10,000 that they initially authorised to 25 000 with respect to the match of the national teams.
“They finally accepted our proposal and the assurances we gave them that we could increase the number of fans who can be in the stadium to 25 000.”
The Zifa boss believes the increase in permitted attendance is expected to provide a major boost to the national team.
“We have to fill up the stadium to demonstrate our passion and our desire to support our boys. These are very crucial matches, especially for the senior team because it speaks to AFCON 2027 finals even for the under23’s who are looking for a ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 which we have to qualify for. This is why it is very important to have all the support. The 12th man is very key, so I appeal to all football loving Zimbabweans to turn out in our numbers” he said.
Before the Warriors can enjoy that home Support, they will first face Equatorial Guinea away in Cameroon on November 12.
Their opponents have however encountered a setback.
Their Number One goalie Jesús Owono could be excused as he is at the centre of the unfortunate circumstances which led to Spain’s Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel’s death on Tuesday.
Owono, who plays for FC Andorra in the Spanish Laliga 2 clashed with Miguel on the field on Monday night after sprinting from his goal line to stop a Tenerife attack.
The 25-year-old appeared to be sticking his knee out and on impact Miguel collapsed to the ground and suffered a cardiac arrest, subsequently breathing his last on Tuesday morning.
Spanish police, as per standard procedure in this European country, opened a manslaughter investigation but reports say Owono will avoid prison with the tragic accident deemed unintentional.
But it’s almost certain that the goalie will not be available for Zimbabwe’s fixtures in Cameroon and in Harare.
While reports suggest he will be banned for between 8-12 Laliga 2 games, Owono is unlikely to face any international ban but his state of mind might not allow him to show up for the Warriors games in Group E.
He is already facing abuse online and he was yesterday forced to deactivate most of his social media handles including his Instagram which had over 30 000 followers.
Owono has been the one starting for Equatorial Guinea in all their recent matches including at the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco and the two Group E 2027 AFCON qualifiers against DRC and Sierra Leone.
Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are level on three points after two games and whoever will get the most from the upcoming games will enhance their chances of making the top two of the group and be in a good space to clip the ticket to Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya next year.
Sierra Leone and DRC will be involved in back-to-back battles of their own.
