The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has lifted its ban on spectators for the Zimbabwe Women's National Football Team's 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualification second leg match against Malawi's Scorchers. The match will be held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe. CAF had imposed a provisional ban on fans at the venue following a stampede during a recent 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo men's teams.
According to a statement from the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa), CAF has granted exceptional authorization to admit a maximum of 10,000 spectators for the match. The association has reiterated its commitment to prioritizing the safety of spectators, players, officials, and match personnel. Zifa has also announced that stadium gates will open five hours before kick-off, encouraging supporters to arrive early for security screening and orderly entry.
The development is expected to boost the morale of the Zimbabwe Women's National Football Team, who will host the second leg of the Olympic qualification match. The team will face Malawi's Scorchers, who won the first leg 2-0 at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi. The Scorchers' victory has given them a significant advantage heading into the second leg.
The Malawi National Women's Football Team arrived in Harare yesterday and is expected to train at the match venue this afternoon. The team's supporters are also planning to travel to Harare to cheer them on, following the news of the lifted spectator ban. Women's football enthusiast Isaac Jomo Osman said the development would be a boost for Malawi, as some fans are mobilizing themselves to travel to Zimbabwe to support the team.
Osman noted that the decision to allow spectators would not only benefit Zimbabwe but also Malawi, as their supporters would be able to attend the match and cheer on the team. The Scorchers' fans have been enthusiastic about the team's performance, and the lifted ban is expected to add to the excitement of the match.
Zifa has assured that admission to the match will be strictly controlled, and attendance will not exceed the authorized limit of 10,000 spectators. The association has also expressed its heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the supporter who tragically lost their life in the stampede during the recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The match is expected to be a thrilling encounter, with Malawi's Scorchers looking to build on their 2-0 lead from the first leg. The Zimbabwe Women's National Football Team will need to mount a strong comeback to overturn the deficit and qualify for the next round of the Olympic qualification tournament. The lifted spectator ban is expected to add to the excitement of the match, with 10,000 fans set to cheer on their teams.
Key points
- CAF allows 10,000 spectators for the Zimbabwe vs Malawi women's football match
- Malawi's Scorchers won the first leg 2-0 against Zimbabwe's women's team
- The match is part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualification tournament
