Only 10,000 fans will be allowed into the National Sports Stadium for upcoming football matches after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) granted Zimbabwe conditional authorisation to admit spectators under strict safety measures.
ZIFA confirmed that the attendance limit will apply to Zimbabwe’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifier against Malawi and the CAF Champions League fixture involving Scotland FC and Atlético Petróleos de Luanda.
“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted exceptional, strictly conditional authorisation to admit a maximum of 10,000 spectators per match at the National Sports Stadium,” ZIFA said.
Zimbabwe are scheduled to face Malawi on 13 October 2026, while the match between Scotland FC and Atlético Petróleos de Luanda is provisionally scheduled for 17 October, subject to confirmation of the official fixture date.
The decision places a strict cap on the number of supporters who can attend the matches, with ZIFA emphasising that spectator safety will remain the priority following the death of a supporter.
“ZIFA reiterates its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the supporter who tragically lost their life. The safety of spectators, players, officials and all match personnel remains our foremost priority,” the association said.
As part of the conditions, stadium gates will open five hours before kick-off, with supporters urged to arrive early to allow sufficient time for security checks, entry procedures and seating.
Related Stories
ZIFA said admission would be strictly controlled to ensure that attendance does not exceed the authorised limit, adding that spectators would only be permitted into designated and approved areas.
Ticketing, entry and parking arrangements will be announced separately ahead of the matches.
The association also warned that hooliganism, violence, intimidation, vandalism, forced entry and any conduct that threatens public safety would not be tolerated.
“Offenders will be refused entry, removed from the stadium or banned from attending matches, as appropriate,” ZIFA said, urging supporters to follow instructions from police officers, stewards and match officials.
Enhanced security arrangements will cover crowd management, access control, security deployment, medical services and emergency response. A CAF Safety and Security Officer will monitor and assess the implementation of the measures.
ZIFA warned that failure to comply with CAF’s conditions could result in further restrictions or the withdrawal of permission to admit spectators.
Leave Comments