CAF orders Zimbabwe to play next home match behind closed doors

Zimbabwe has been ordered to play its next home international match behind closed doors by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), following incidents during the Warriors’ 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the National Sports Stadium on 28 September.

The CAF Disciplinary Committee has also fined the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) over the incidents, which included the death of a fan and a pitch invasion at the end of the match.

The Warriors lost the match 2-1, but the result was overshadowed by the tragic death and the subsequent pitch invasion.

The sanction comes as a major setback for Zimbabwe, with the National Sports Stadium having recently undergone extensive renovations and hosted its first Warriors match since 2021.

More details of the CAF ruling are expected to follow.