Dembare withdraw from 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup

Cash-strapped Harare football giants Dynamos FC have officially pulled out of the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup, citing overwhelming financial constraints and the ongoing lack of a CAF-approved home stadium in Zimbabwe.

The announcement, made by board chairman Bernard Marriot, marks a major setback for the country's representation on the continental stage, especially coming from one of Zimbabwe's most decorated clubs.

"We're not going," Marriot told reporters. "Without a CAF-approved stadium locally, it's too expensive to host matches outside the country. It's a financial nightmare."

Dynamos had earned their continental berth after lifting the Chibuku Super Cup for the second consecutive season under coach Lloyd Chigowe. However, the club says the cost of staging "home" matches abroad-likely in Botswana again-makes participation impossible.

Zimbabwe's National Sports Stadium, the traditional home for major fixtures, remains suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) due to persistent failure to meet international standards. With no approved alternative available in the country, Dynamos faced the logistical and financial burden of hosting games in a foreign country.

Last season, the team's preliminary round exit after travelling to Botswana cost the club dearly. Missing out on the lucrative US$400,000 CAF group stage payout, Dynamos walked away with just US$50,000-a loss they are unwilling to repeat.

"The club was left reeling financially last time. With no meaningful sponsorship injection and the stadium issue unresolved, it's simply not viable," a senior Dynamos official added.

Dynamos' withdrawal leaves Simba Bhora, winners of the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, as Zimbabwe's sole representatives in African inter-club competitions this season. The move further dents Zimbabwe's continental football profile, which is already under pressure following years of administrative chaos and infrastructure decay.

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has come under fire for failing to expedite renovations or develop suitable alternatives, despite repeated warnings from CAF. Critics say the current state of affairs shows the country's lack of preparedness to re-integrate fully into global football after recent years in the wilderness.

For the Glamour Boys, the decision underscores a sad reality: that prestige alone is not enough to compete in modern African football.

"For now, the lights are out and the dream is over," said one long-time fan. "Dynamos deserves better, but the system is broken."

As fans reel from the news, attention now shifts to whether urgent infrastructural reforms and better financing mechanisms will be put in place to ensure Zimbabwe's clubs can once again fly the flag high on the continental stage.