On October 1, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) released an official statement regarding the death of a football fan during a crush at the National Sports Stadium on Monday.

The tragedy occurred at Gate 2 of the National Sports Stadium in Zimbabwe when a large crowd of fans rushed to enter the venue for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier Group E match between Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A vehicle belonging to the Zimbabwe Republic Police was reportedly involved in the incident that triggered the stampede.

ZIFA confirmed the death in a statement released on Tuesday, expressing condolences to the victim's family and wishing all injured fans a swift recovery.

"The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) regrets to announce the tragic death of a spectator following an incident at the National Sports Stadium during the match between Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, September 28, 2024," ZIFA stated.

The association added, "On behalf of the Board, players, technical team, and the entire football family, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. We also wish all injured fans a complete and speedy recovery."

ZIFA said it is currently working with police and other relevant parties to determine the exact cause of the fatal incident.

The statement read: "The Zimbabwe Football Association is cooperating closely with all stakeholders and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to establish the precise circumstances of the incident at Gate 2 and address safety concerns. The association will support appropriate legal processes to ensure justice is served."

ZIFA also stated that safety at football matches is their top priority and announced a comprehensive review of match day operations and organization.

"The safety and wellbeing of all individuals attending football matches remain our paramount concern. ZIFA is collaborating with relevant authorities and stadium operators to review match day operations, identify shortcomings, and further strengthen security measures to protect all attendees," ZIFA said.

The association concluded: "Our thoughts remain with the family of the deceased, the injured fans, and all those affected by this incident."

This is reportedly not the first serious fan safety incident at the National Sports Stadium in Zimbabwe. A previous fan stampede occurred at the stadium in 2019. Notably, Zimbabwe is currently bidding to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, alongside countries such as South Africa.

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