HARARE – Zimbabwe could play their home 2026 World Cup qualifier with Nigeria next month in Rwanda after the country’s stadiums were condemned by the Confederation of African Football.
The Warriors are due to play Rwanda in their opening Group C match during the November international break before hosting Nigeria a few days later.
ZIFA’s normalisation committee is now reported to be seriously considering keeping the Warriors in Rwanda for the Nigeria match than fly back to Southern Africa and set up camp in a neighbouring country.
Zimbabwe’s stadiums were all deemed not fit to host international matches by CAF, leaving the country with only once choice of playing all matches away from home.
It had been expected that South Africa and Botswana would likely be the top candidates to host Zimbabwe’s home fixtures but ZIFA wants Kigali, Rwanda, for the Nigeria match for “logistical reasons,” StarFM sports anchor Steve Vickers reported on Monday night.
ZIFA have been engaged in talks with the Rwanda FA over the hosting of the fixture.
Citizens Coalition for Change MP Fadzayi Mahere said: “Where is the sports minister when Zimbabwe’s most loved sport is without a single functional stadium? Forty three years of independence and not a single approved facility to play an international soccer match?
“Now we are faced with the embarrassment of playing a ‘home’ match in Kigali. What does this do to the morale of athletes? How will fans watch their team? Zanu PF is a cancer that destroys everything in its wake – including the most beautiful game.”
Zimbabwe’s other Group C opponents are South Africa, Lesotho and Benin.
