The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to ban Zimbabwe from hosting home matches after a fan died in a stampede outside the Zimbabwe National Stadium in Harare during a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The fatality occurred at Gate 2 of the stadium before Zimbabwe’s Matchday 2 clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 26, 2026.
Zimbabwe went on to lose the match 2-1 to the Leopards, but attention quickly shifted to the tragedy outside the ground.
According to 263 Chat, a supporter was killed in the stampede that broke out at the gate ahead of kick-off, prompting safety concerns about the newly opened venue.
Reporter Micky Jnr said CAF is preparing to sanction the Zimbabwe National Stadium, with an official statement from the continental governing body expected soon to confirm the specific details of the punishment. The development is a significant blow to Zimbabwean football.
The national team, known as the Warriors, had only recently begun playing at home again after a prolonged period of hosting fixtures outside the country.
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Zimbabwe played their home games in South Africa due to their stadium not meeting CAF’s requirements at the time.
Harare Stadium
The Zimbabwe National Stadium had been seen as a turning point, giving local fans the opportunity to watch the Warriors compete on home soil. That prospect now appears to be short-lived, with the expected ban set to deny supporters another chance to watch their team play in Harare.
