The Ministry of Local Government has barred the Zimbabwe senior men’s soccer team, the Warriors, from accessing the National sports Stadium where they will face visitors Congo Brazzaville on Sunday.

This followed a standoff between the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and the government department over the Zifa online ticketing system, Soccer 24 has reported Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare as saying.

The ministry, which owns the stadium, wants access to the online ticketing system so that they will be in a position to ascertain their share of the gate takings.

Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare expressed sadness at the development.

“Yes, we were locked out of the stadium because of some standoff between Zifa and the department of public works in the Ministry of Local Government,” said Mpandare.

“It’s really a sad episode because we have lost a day of training. It’s like we are now home away from home yet in Congo we had four days at the match venue.”

The national team held their previous sessions at Harare International School and were hoping to have a feel of the stadium turf today. They are set to use the venue on Sunday for their decisive 2019 Afcon qualifier against Congo Brazzaville.

A minimum of a draw against the visiting Congo Brazzaville will see the Warriors booking their ticket to the June 2019 Afcon tournament in Egypt.

Zifa boss Felton Kamambo has reportedly been locked in meetings with the ministry officials to clear the impasse.