By Tapiwa Chawagarira
ZIMBABWE has taken a major step toward ending years of playing international football away from home after the National Sports Stadium (NSS) was granted Confederation of African Football (CAF) Category 3 approval.
The Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture announced the development in a press statement, noting that the approval followed a recent technical inspection and significant progress on priority works at the country’s premier sporting facility.
The approval means that the National Sports Stadium can now host, subject to the specific requirements of each competition, CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup group-stage and quarter-final matches, as well as Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and other competitions applicable to Category 3 stadiums.
The milestone is expected to bring immense relief to Zimbabwean football, which for years has been forced to host several international matches outside the country due to the unavailability of a CAF-approved stadium.
The stadium’s long road back began after CAF inspections in late 2019 determined that the National Sports Stadium was no longer compliant with the required standards for international football. In February 2020, Zimbabwe was effectively barred from hosting international matches after its major stadiums failed to meet those standards, forcing the country to seek neutral venues for home fixtures.
Although the NSS later received temporary approval and hosted some matches, Zimbabwe’s last senior international fixture at the stadium was a 1-1 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw against Ethiopia on November 14, 2021. In the years that followed, the Warriors, other Zimbabwean national teams, and local clubs competing in CAF competitions were increasingly forced to play home fixtures in neighbouring countries.
The Ministry said the latest approval was a direct result of concerted efforts by the Government of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), and other stakeholders to restore the National Sports Stadium to its status as the country’s premier football venue.
“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 football venue,” the Ministry said.
The rehabilitation programme forms part of the broader government drive to develop modern, functional, and sustainable sporting infrastructure in line with the National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030.
Key areas addressed during the refurbishment include the playing surface and drainage system, installation of bucket seats, modernization of technical and player areas, improvements to changing rooms and ablution facilities, electronic turnstiles, and other safety and operational infrastructure.
A major contribution to the refurbishment was made through a public-private partnership involving Sakunda Holdings, which supported the modernization of the stadium, including the installation of thousands of bucket seats and other upgrades aimed at improving the facility’s functionality, appearance, and spectator experience. The Government’s 2026 Mid-Term Budget Review also recorded that a test match between CAPS United and Scottland FC was played at the NSS on May 31 to assess the readiness of facilities such as bucket seats, turnstiles, and ablution areas.
The Ministry also commended ZIFA for its continued technical advice and cooperation with the government in the drive to secure international approval, saying the achievement demonstrated the effectiveness of an all-stakeholder approach to national development.
CAF, according to the Ministry, acknowledged the considerable progress made by Zimbabwean authorities and encouraged the country to maintain its positive momentum by completing the remaining priority works.
The approval could prove to be a major turning point for Zimbabwean football, particularly after years in which the absence of an internationally approved home venue forced national teams and clubs to incur the financial and logistical burdens of staging “home” matches in foreign countries.
In its statement, the Ministry called on Zimbabweans, football supporters, the corporate sector, sporting bodies, and the media to rally behind efforts to protect and develop the country’s sporting infrastructure.
“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 where international football can thrive in Zimbabwe,” the Ministry said.
For Zimbabwean football, the CAF Category 3 approval represents more than just the reopening of a stadium to international competition. It marks the return of hope that the Warriors, local clubs, and the country’s supporters can once again experience major international football on home soil.
