South Africa will play seven out of their 10 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches on home soil after the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) confirmed that their penultimate Group C clash against Bafana Bafana will take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Zimbabwe have been forced to play all their home fixtures outside the country due to a FIFA stadium ban over poor safety standards.

The Warriors had previously used Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg and the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban for earlier qualifiers.

Although ZIFA initially considered staging the South Africa tie in Botswana to create easier access for their fans, the Botswana Football Association later ruled out the Francistown Sports Complex, citing unavailability.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association wishes to inform fans that the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa on October 10 will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa,” ZIFA confirmed in a statement.

The decision means Bafana Bafana will have enjoyed home comforts in seven matches by the end of the qualifying series, five originally scheduled home ties, plus fixtures against Lesotho and now Zimbabwe that were shifted to South Africa.

Currently, South Africa is at the top of Group C with 17 points, three clear of second-placed Benin and six ahead of Nigeria, with just two matches left to play.

Despite their advantage, Hugo Broos’ men face uncertainty as FIFA continues to probe the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was fielded against Lesotho in March despite allegedly being suspended after accumulating two yellow cards.

If found guilty, South Africa could be docked points and handed a 3-0 defeat, which would significantly alter the group standings.

For Zimbabwe, the fixture is little more than formality. The Warriors are already out of contention after a poor run that has left them at the bottom of the group with only four points.

South Africa will wrap up their campaign with another home tie against Rwanda, while Nigeria still harbour hopes of qualification as they prepare to face Lesotho away and the Benin Republic in their final fixtures.