AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Zimbabwe football fan dies in stadium stampede during DR Congo game

A football fan has died in a stampede at Zimbabwe’s National Sports Stadium during the Warriors’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday evening.

The fatal incident occurred at Gate Number Two shortly after the match began, with Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirming that a person lost their life amid a confrontation involving a police public order vehicle and a pedestrian.

Police said the incident happened at about 6:30pm as supporters entered or moved through the stadium area, although the circumstances that led to the stampede remain unclear.

In a statement issued after the incident, the ZRP said it had launched an investigation to establish what happened.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that swift and comprehensive investigations are currently underway after a fatal incident involving a police public order vehicle and a pedestrian at the National Sports Stadium, where one person died during a stampede at gate number two at 1830 hours at the beginning of the soccer match between Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo,” the ZRP said.

Police probe circumstances surrounding death

The identity of the deceased had not been released by police at the time of publication.

The incident has renewed concerns about safety and crowd management at the National Sports Stadium, particularly during high-profile football matches that attract large numbers of supporters.

Authorities are now expected to establish how the situation developed at Gate Number Two and whether any failures in crowd control contributed to the fatality.

The ZRP assured the public that its investigation would be conducted objectively and comprehensively, with the aim of determining exactly what transpired.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police assures the public of objective and comprehensive investigations to find out exactly what transpired,” the statement said.

The police investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the involvement of the public order vehicle, the movement of supporters at the gate and the events that preceded the stampede.

The tragedy cast a shadow over a match that had brought supporters together for an important continental qualifier, with the incident occurring just minutes after the contest got underway.

National Sports Stadium faces another tragedy

Monday’s death is not the first fatal crowd incident to hit the National Sports Stadium during a Zimbabwe international.

Nearly seven years ago, another football fan died in a stampede at the same venue during Zimbabwe’s match against Congo-Brazzaville in 2019.

The latest incident therefore raises renewed questions about the measures in place to protect supporters entering and leaving the stadium, particularly when large crowds gather for Warriors matches.

While police have yet to establish responsibility or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding Monday’s death, the investigation will be closely watched as authorities seek to determine how the fatal incident occurred.

The ZRP has urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed as officers work to establish the full sequence of events.

The death has left another supporter casualty at one of Zimbabwe’s most important sporting venues and placed renewed attention on crowd safety at the National Sports Stadium.