26 February 2020 – The Zimbabwe national team will have to play their home matches outside the country after the Confededration of African Football (CAF) barred them from using their available stadiums.
This follows an inspection conducted by the governing body of African football in November, which found the venues not up to the required standard.
In the meantime, Zifa has begun looking for alternative venues in South Africa, with Gauteng the most likely preferred Province.
The Zimbabwe Warriors next home match is the 2021 Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria, which will be played on Sunday, 29 March.
Zimbabwe is in Group H of the 2021 AFCON qualfiers alongside Algeria, Botswana and Zambia.
In the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which kickoff in October this year, Zimbabwe has been drawn in Group G alongside South Africa, Ghana and Ethiopia.
ZIFA statement following the ban by CAF:
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation that it has received correspondence from the Confederation of African Football that our stadiums do not meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards to host international matches. Consequently, CAF has made a decision to bar ZIFA from using local stadiums in all upcoming international matches. While ZIFA is engaging CAF with a view to appeal this decision, we have asked stadium authorities to send us commitment letters detailing timelines on work that needs to be done before CAF comes for another inspection. Once we receive such commitment, we will send to CAF. 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,” the statement concluded.