Zimbabwe face losing home venue after fan dies at AFCON qualifier against DR Congo

Zimbabwe are set to be banned from hosting home matches following the death of a fan during their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Harare.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is expected to formally announce the decision in the coming days.

The incident occurred during the Warriors’ recent AFCON 2027 qualifying match against DR Congo at the National Sports Stadium, raising fresh concerns about safety and crowd management at the venue.

The anticipated sanction would force Zimbabwe to play their upcoming home fixtures at a neutral venue outside the country.

The development comes at a particularly difficult time for Zimbabwean football, with the Warriors having only recently returned to playing international matches at home after several years of being forced to stage their fixtures outside Zimbabwe.

The National Sports Stadium had previously been deemed unsuitable to host international matches, forcing Zimbabwe to use venues in neighbouring countries for their home games.

The return to Harare had therefore been welcomed as an important step for the national team and supporters, who had been deprived of the opportunity to watch the Warriors compete on home soil.

However, the death of the supporter during the DR Congo match is now expected to have serious consequences.

CAF’s decision is likely to focus on the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether the required safety and security measures were adequately implemented.

A home-match ban would also represent a setback for Zimbabwe’s preparations for the remainder of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, particularly given the importance of home advantage in a competitive qualifying group.

Zimbabwe will now await CAF’s official communication, which is expected to clarify the length and conditions of any suspension and identify where the Warriors will be required to stage their next home fixture.

The authorities could also face increased scrutiny over stadium safety, crowd control and emergency response procedures following the tragedy.

For Zimbabwean supporters, the incident is a painful development after the long-awaited return of international football to Harare.

The Warriors’ return to the National Sports Stadium had offered hopes of restoring a stronger connection between the national team and its home fans.

Instead, the tragedy could see Zimbabwe once again forced to take their home matches abroad.