By Sukoluhle Ndlovu
Zimbabwe will admit up to 10,000 spectators at the National Sports Stadium for two upcoming football matches after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) granted conditional approval, weeks after a supporter died during the Warriors’ match against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) announced on Saturday that fans would be allowed to attend the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifier between Zimbabwe and Malawi on October 13, as well as Scottland FC’s CAF Champions League match against Angola’s Atlético Petróleos de Luanda, provisionally set for October 17.
The decision follows the chaotic scenes at the stadium on September 28, when Zimbabwe hosted DR Congo in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. A supporter died at Gate Two as fans attempted to enter the venue, while others invaded the pitch after the final whistle.
In a statement, ZIFA said CAF had approved the limited return of spectators under strict safety conditions.
“CAF has granted exceptional, strictly conditional authorisation to admit a maximum of 10,000 spectators per match at the National Sports Stadium,” the association said.
ZIFA said stadium gates would open five hours before kick-off to allow for security checks and orderly entry.
“Admission will be strictly controlled, attendance will not exceed the authorised limit, and spectators will occupy only designated, approved areas,” the statement said.
The association also warned supporters against violence, hooliganism, vandalism and forced entry, saying offenders could be removed from the stadium or banned from attending matches.
The matches will be subject to enhanced security measures, including crowd management, access control, medical services and emergency response.
A CAF Safety and Security Officer will monitor compliance, with ZIFA warning that failure to meet the conditions could result in further restrictions or the withdrawal of permission to admit fans.
The association also expressed condolences to the family of the supporter who died during the DR Congo match.
“The safety of spectators, players, officials and all match personnel remains our foremost priority,” ZIFA said.
The National Sports Stadium had recently undergone renovations and returned to hosting international matches after Zimbabwe spent years playing its home fixtures at foreign venues.
The conditional approval offers supporters an opportunity to return to the stands, but future access will depend on whether the safety measures meet CAF’s requirements.
