CAF Sanctions Zimbabwe After DRC Crowd Trouble and Fan Death
CAF has ordered Zimbabwe to play its next home international fixture behind closed doors and fined ZIFA after a fan died in a stampede and spectators invaded the pitch during the 2-1 AFCON qualifier loss to DRC at Harare’s National Sports Stadium.
Kwedu News 
Harare — The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sanctioned the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), ordering the national team to stage its next home international fixture without spectators and imposing a financial fine, following a fatal stampede and pitch invasion during a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The incidents occurred on 28 September 2026 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare during Zimbabwe’s 2-1 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
A supporter died in a stampede near Gate 2 as crowds gathered to enter the venue, and spectators later invaded the pitch after the final whistle.
The closed-doors order applies to Zimbabwe’s upcoming home qualifier against Equatorial Guinea.
ZIFA has also been fined, though the exact amount has not been publicly detailed in initial reports.
The match was meant to be a landmark return for the Warriors to the National Sports Stadium after years of playing home fixtures abroad due to infrastructure and safety shortcomings.
The venue had undergone renovations, including the installation of bucket seats and other upgrades and received CAF Category 3 approval earlier in 2026, enabling it to host international matches again for the first time since 2021.
Instead, the occasion was overshadowed by tragedy.
Police confirmed that a fatal incident involving a police public-order vehicle and a pedestrian took place during a stampede at Gate 2 around 6:30pm, when the match was about to start.
Investigations were launched and ZIFA later issued a statement expressing condolences to the deceased’s family, wishing injured fans a speedy recovery, and stating that it was working with stakeholders, including the Zimbabwe Republic Police, to review the circumstances and strengthen safety measures.
The post-match pitch invasion further violated CAF rules and contributed to the disciplinary action. Reports indicated challenges with crowd management, including delays in ticket scanning and large numbers of supporters attempting to enter
In the aftermath, ZIFA and authorities moved to overhaul security and crowd-control systems at the stadium.
A subsequent Under-23 match was staged under tightened measures at the same venue.
