HARARE – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is likely to host the Warriors’ upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Initial reports suggested the match would be staged in Botswana at the Obedi Itan Chilume Stadium.
However, the Botswana Football Association reportedly informed ZIFA that the venue will be unavailable as it is set to host Botswana’s international fixture on 9 October, a day before Zimbabwe’s clash with Bafana Bafana.
“This contravenes FIFA regulations, which require visiting teams to access the match venue a day before the game,” a source close to the developments told Nehanda Radio.
With the National Sports Stadium in Harare suspended by CAF due to years of neglect, ZIFA has been forced to look abroad for alternative venues with many matches hosted in South Africa.
Meanwhile, renovations at the National Sports Stadium are ongoing, with topsoil currently being laid and lawn seeding expected before the end of September.
Bucket seats have been installed, the water reticulation system refurbished, and several other works are said to be near completion.
However, the installation of electronic turnstiles, a key CAF requirement, remains outstanding.
