The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has cleared the National Sports Stadium to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The development means Zimbabwe will host South Africa at the National Sports Stadium. Meanwhile, areas in need of upgrade include:
- Pitch condition,
- Seats for spectators,
- Toilets for spectators,
- Signage in & around the stadium,
- Dressing rooms floors, showers and toilets
- Offices floors
- CCTV
- Access controls
- Venue Operations Centre
Zifa had earlier on warned that the Warriors faced a real possibility of losing their sovereignty by playing their home World Cup qualifiers on foreign soil if no improvements were urgently done at the National Sports Stadium.
Last month, Caf slapped Zifa with a US$2 000 fine for the lack of bucket seats at the National Sports Stadium.
Twenty countries, including highly ranked Senegal and Mali, had their facilities condemned and omitted from the list of stadia that meet Caf requirements.
The National Sports Stadium was, however, in the Caf’s circular that listed continental facilities cleared for the qualifiers’ Match Day 1 and 2.
The Warriors are in Group G alongside neighbours South Africa, whom they face in the opening match between June 5-8, former continental champions Ghana and Ethiopia.
Zimbabwe’s Match Day 2 is in Ethiopia on June 11 at Bahir Dar International Stadium in Bahir Dar.
Ghana, who open their group match with a home assignment against Ethiopia, had Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Sports Stadium cleared by Caf.
South Africa have 13 facilities dotted across the country that are suitable for international assignments, according to the Caf list.
More: Pindula News; Chronicle