Audio By Carbonatix
Zimbabwe may have to find a 'home' away from home when they kick-off their World Cup qualifiers later in the year after being barred from hosting international matches by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) confirmed on Tuesday that all three of their main stadia - Barbourfields in Bulawayo, Mandava in Zvishavane and the National Sports Stadium in Harare - had failed inspection visits by CAF last November.
They are due to host Algeria in March in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and finish that campaign at home to Zambia in September.
The World Cup qualifiers get under way in October, though the fixtures have yet to be released. Zimbabwe have been drawn in a pool with Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia.
"Stadium authorities were notified of CAF’s position and the urgent nature of the situation at hand," ZIFA said in a statement.
"To date, neither of the three stadium authorities has requested us to invite CAF for another inspection, a position which CAF has said led to the decision to bar all three stadiums from hosting international matches."
ZIFA went on to plead for stakeholders including the government to provide funding to complete the work needed at the dilapidated venues.
"In this moment we urge all stakeholders to work for a common cause for us to quickly right this wrong which takes away our sovereignty.
"We have been using stadiums which do not meet CAF and FIFA standards for a while now, but we need to put our heads together as a country to ensure that our stadiums are renovated to meet required standards," it said.
"We are hopeful that everyone who has influence to expedite the process of bringing our teams back home will do their part."
ZIFA confirmed that it was exploring alternative venues in neighbouring countries.
Latest Stories
-
2026 FIFA World Cup: What African fans will pay to watch their teams
4 hours -
2026 World Cup: How FIFA priced Africa’s ordinary fan out of the tournament – and why the gap with the rest of the world is impossible to ignore
5 hours -
Creative industries ‘incredibly worried’ about OpenAI-Disney deal
5 hours -
Low condom use among young people in Volta Region disheartening – AIDS Commission
5 hours -
Prada to launch $930 ‘Made in India’ Kolhapuri sandals after backlash
5 hours -
Gov’t moves to fix Armed Forces housing crisis with 2000 new units and jets
6 hours -
Boy, 13, shot dead as youth torch mining vehicles in Adelekezu
6 hours -
‘Architects of AI’ named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year
6 hours -
GPL 2025/26: Berekum Chelsea edge Hohoe United to end winless run
7 hours -
GPL 2025/26: Mensah’s penalty helps Bechem United beat Eleven Wonders
7 hours -
Did Ghana need 110 brand new hospitals at once?
7 hours -
Benin: Ex-president’s son arrested after foiled coup attempt
7 hours -
Reconsidering Ghana’s presidential age limit: Why Article 62(b) of the 1992 Constitution deserves review
7 hours -
ECOWAS unanimously endorses President Mahama for African Union chairmanship
8 hours -
Douri-Naa predicts victory for ‘Second Dombo’ Bawumia in NPP primaries and 2028 election
8 hours
