CAF clears National Sports Stadium after five-year ban

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) granted Zimbabwe's National Sports Stadium Category 3 certification on Friday, ending a five-year ban on hosting international matches. The Ministry of Sport confirmed that the Harare venue now meets CAF standards. The stadium had been barred since 2021 due to poor facilities, forcing the Warriors to play home games in South Africa. The approval clears the way for World Cup qualifiers and AFCON matches to return to Zimbabwe. The certification allows Zimbabwe to host international football matches for the first time in five years.