National Sports Stadium Cleared To Host 30,000 Fans For Zimbabwe-DR Congo Clash

By Sports Reporter

By Staff Reporter

HARARE — Up to 30,000 football fans will be allowed into the National Sports Stadium for Zimbabwe’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo next week.

The decision marks a major step in the return of international football to the stadium, which is hosting a Warriors fixture at the venue for the first time in five years.

The 30,000-spectator limit is the stadium’s new maximum capacity following the installation of individual bucket seats, which reduced its original 60,000 capacity by half.

Zimbabwe Football Association chief executive Yvonne Manwa confirmed the approved attendance during a local podcast.

The increased capacity comes after authorities recently allowed only 15,000 supporters into the stadium for the CAF Champions League match between Scottland and Nsingizini Hotspurs.

The Warriors will face DR Congo in their second 2027 AFCON qualifying match, four days after opening their campaign against Sierra Leone.

Zimbabwe’s opening qualifier is being played in Morocco because the country currently does not have a CAF-certified stadium available to host the match.

The Warriors’ clash against DR Congo is scheduled for a 6pm kick-off.

General admission tickets are priced at US$10, while VVIP tickets cost US$50.

The return of international football to the National Sports Stadium is expected to attract a significant home crowd as Zimbabwe begins its campaign to qualify for the 2027 AFCON finals.