The stadium is now authorised to stage CAF Champions League preliminary matches, CAF Confederation Cup preliminary matches, FIFA World Cup qualifiers and AFCON 2027 qualifiers. The decision represents a significant boost for Zimbabwean football and restores the venue’s status as a suitable host for elite competition.
Approval from CAF follows the necessary inspections and compliance checks required for stadiums seeking to stage matches under the confederation’s jurisdiction. The National Sports Stadium, long regarded as the country’s premier football venue, has undergone the required assessments to meet current standards relating to safety, facilities, pitch quality and spectator provision.
The clearance is particularly timely. Zimbabwean clubs involved in the early rounds of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup will now have the option of staging home ties at the National Sports Stadium, provided other organisational criteria are fulfilled. Similarly, the national team will be able to utilise the venue for World Cup and AFCON qualifying campaigns, offering supporters a familiar and accessible location for major fixtures.
Football Association of Zimbabwe president Nqobile Magwizi has been credited with playing a key role in driving the process that led to the stadium’s approval. The development has been widely welcomed by fans and stakeholders who have long called for the country’s main stadium to regain full continental accreditation.
For clubs and the national team, the availability of a CAF-approved venue removes a potential logistical and financial burden. Hosting matches at home rather than at alternative approved stadiums elsewhere can reduce costs, increase attendance and strengthen the connection between teams and their supporters.
The National Sports Stadium has a rich history in Zimbabwean football, having staged numerous memorable matches over the years. Its return to the list of approved venues for CAF and FIFA competitions marks an important step in the continued development of the game in the country.
Attention will now turn to the practical arrangements required to stage matches at the stadium, including any final operational details. For the moment, the confirmation from CAF stands as positive news for Zimbabwean football and a platform on which further progress can be built.