Johnson Progress

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has given the green light for the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe, to host international football matches, marking the return of international games to the country after a four-year hiatus.

The stadium has been approved for Category Two matches, including U17 to U23 African Cup of Nations qualifiers and CAF Champions League preliminary games.

According to CAF, the approval is part of a broader list of stadiums across Africa that have met the required standards for hosting international matches.

The National Sports Stadium’s approval is a significant development for Zimbabwean football, as it allows the country to host international matches again.

The stadium’s renovation has been ongoing, and the approval is a testament to the efforts being made to bring international football back to Zimbabwe.

Simba Bhora will be the first team to use the stadium when they play against Nsingizi Hotspurs in September.

However, CAF has not yet approved the venue for matches involving the senior men’s and women’s national teams.

The Zimbabwean national team, known as the Warriors, will have to wait to play at the stadium, as the renovations are still incomplete.

Instead, they will play their upcoming home matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.

CAF’s approval of stadiums across Africa is part of its efforts to promote football development on the continent.

The list of approved stadiums covers 45 African countries, allowing them to host matches for the CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup, and U17, U20, and U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

South Africa leads with 13 approved stadiums, followed by Morocco with 10, and Algeria with nine.

Most countries have at least one approved venue.

However, some countries, including the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Eritrea, Guinea, Lesotho, Namibia, São Tomé, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, do not have approved stadiums.

The approval of the National Sports Stadium is a significant boost for Zimbabwean football, and fans are eagerly awaiting the return of international matches to the country.

With the stadium’s renovation nearing completion, it is expected that the Warriors will soon be able to play their home matches at the stadium.

The development has sparked excitement among football fans, who are looking forward to watching their team play at home.

The approval also highlights the progress being made in Zimbabwean football, and it is expected that the country will continue to produce talented teams and players.

As the football season kicks off, Zimbabwean fans are eager to see their teams in action at the National Sports Stadium.

The stadium’s approval is a step in the right direction, and it will be interesting to see how the teams perform in the upcoming matches.