Zimbabwe National Sports Stadium has been granted Confederation of African Football (CAF) Category 3 approval, to host home games following a recent technical inspection and significant progress on priority works at the stadium.
This brings an end to a five-year ban that began in 2021 due to substandard facilities.
The approval allows the National Sports Stadium, subject to the specific requirements of each competition, to host CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup Group Stage and Quarter-final matches, as well as Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and FIFA World Cup qualifiers and other competitions applicable to Category 3 stadia.
In a statement, Minister of Sport, Recreation, arts and Culture, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Ambassador Sanyatwe said, CAF has acknowledged the considerable efforts made by the Government of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Football Association in addressing the observations raised during the inspection.
“This milestone is a direct reflection of the concerted and deliberate efforts by the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, to restore the National Sports Stadium to its rightful position as the country’s premier footballing venue.
“The interventions are firmly dovetailed with the aspirations of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, particularly the Government’s commitment to developing modern, functional and sustainable sports infrastructure.
“This achievement also speaks directly to the vision of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, of ensuring that international football is played on Zimbabwean soil and that Zimbabweans are able to experience and participate in major international sporting events at home.
“The Ministry also wishes to place on record its profound appreciation to Sakunda Holdings for its invaluable support towards the upgrading and modernisation of the National Sports Stadium. “Through its partnership with Government, Sakunda Holdings has played a significant role in the modernisation of the stadium pitch and the installation of bucket seats, interventions which have substantially enhanced the functionality, aesthetics and overall spectator experience at the national facility.
“This support demonstrates the important role that private-sector partnerships can play in complementing Government efforts to rehabilitate and modernise critical national sporting infrastructure, in line with the Second Republic’s commitment to harnessing partnerships for sustainable national development.
“The Ministry wishes to express its profound appreciation to the Zimbabwe Football Association for its continued technical advice and cooperation with the Government of Zimbabwe to secure international approval.”
He said, the achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of the Second Republic’s all-stakeholder approach to national development, where Government, national sport associations, technical experts and other stakeholders work collectively towards common national objectives.
“CAF itself has commended ZIFA and the relevant Zimbabwean authorities for the considerable efforts made and has encouraged the country to maintain the positive momentum and complete the remaining priority works.
“The Ministry therefore calls upon all Zimbabweans, football supporters, the corporate sector, sporting fraternity and the media to rally behind this important national development.
“Let us fill our stadiums, support our Warriors and our clubs, protect and take pride in our sporting infrastructure, and collectively contribute to creating an environment in which international football can thrive in Zimbabwe.”
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