Zimbabwe National Sports Stadium allowed 10,000 fans for two matches

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) conditional permission to admit up to 10,000 spectators to the National Sports Stadium in Harare for two upcoming matches in October.

The decision follows a ban imposed after a supporter died during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo in late September. Reports indicated that faulty ticket scanners caused crowd congestion, during which a police water-cannon vehicle reportedly struck the deceased fan.

The two permitted fixtures include a women’s Olympic qualifier between Zimbabwe and Malawi on 13 October, and a CAF Champions League club tie involving Scotland FC, provisionally scheduled for 17 October.

To ensure safety, CAF has mandated strict security conditions and monitoring by safety officers. The results of these two test matches will determine whether larger crowds will be permitted to return to the stadium in the future.