The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has announced that the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa, originally scheduled for 10 October in Francistown, Botswana, will now be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.
The change comes after the Botswana venue became unavailable due to the host nation’s need to use the stadium.
In a statement on Tuesday, 23 September, ZIFA explained that after evaluating alternative venues across the region, only Orlando Stadium and Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa met the required standards.
Considering logistics, cost, facilities, and fan safety, the organisation opted for Moses Mabhida Stadium to provide the Warriors with the best possible environment to compete.
ZIFA acknowledged the disappointment of not playing at home but urged Zimbabweans to unite and support the national team in this crucial World Cup qualifier.
However, critics have raised concerns over the decision, arguing that hosting the match on South African soil gives Bafana Bafana a home advantage, even though the game is technically a home fixture for Zimbabwe.
Some have also suggested that financial considerations played a role, with ZIFA potentially seeking to capitalise on ticket sales from thousands of Zimbabwean and South African fans expected to attend.
With Zimbabwe already out of contention for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the decision to play South Africa on its home turf rather than a neutral venue such as Botswana’s Obed Itani Chilume Stadium has sparked debate over whether revenue considerations outweighed national pride.
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