Zimbabwe's Warriors can pack 25,000 fans into their home games after CAF eased its crowd restrictions. That's a big jump from the old cap of 10,000, giving the national team room for far more support in the stands.
The limits came after a fan lost their life at a match against the Democratic Republic of Congo. That tragedy led the Confederation of African Football to demand better safety rules and tighter control of crowds at stadiums.
Zimbabwe had to make changes before CAF would ease the ban. Officials took steps to address the safety issues, and the first approval let a smaller group of fans attend. This latest decision marks another shift in those restrictions.
Next up is Equatorial Guinea, with the two sides set to meet in an AFCON 2027 Group E qualifying match. The Warriors will get to play in front of a larger home crowd as they seek a place at the tournament.
And the numbers are worth a look. The National Sports Stadium can hold about 30,000 people at present, which puts the new fan allowance close to its full capacity.
Tickets have prices attached as well. Regular entry will set fans back US$20, while a VIP seat costs US$100. Quite a gap, depending on where a supporter wants to sit.
For the Warriors, the change means more fans can attend, but the higher cap still falls short of opening every available seat.
The limits came after a fan lost their life at a match against the Democratic Republic of Congo. That tragedy led the Confederation of African Football to demand better safety rules and tighter control of crowds at stadiums.
Zimbabwe had to make changes before CAF would ease the ban. Officials took steps to address the safety issues, and the first approval let a smaller group of fans attend. This latest decision marks another shift in those restrictions.
Next up is Equatorial Guinea, with the two sides set to meet in an AFCON 2027 Group E qualifying match. The Warriors will get to play in front of a larger home crowd as they seek a place at the tournament.
And the numbers are worth a look. The National Sports Stadium can hold about 30,000 people at present, which puts the new fan allowance close to its full capacity.
Tickets have prices attached as well. Regular entry will set fans back US$20, while a VIP seat costs US$100. Quite a gap, depending on where a supporter wants to sit.
For the Warriors, the change means more fans can attend, but the higher cap still falls short of opening every available seat.
