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Zimbabwe national football team
Men's association football team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Zimbabwe national football team (nicknamed The Warriors) represents Zimbabwe in men's international football and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), formerly known as the Football Association of Rhodesia. The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, but has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations six times. Zimbabwe has also won the COSAFA Cup a record six times. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).
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History
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Southern Rhodesia played their first official match against the England Amateur national football team as part of the latter's tour of South Africa and Rhodesia in June 1929. Southern Rhodesia lost their first two matches against England 4–0 and 6–1, respectively.[2] In 1965, following Southern Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence as Rhodesia, FIFA requested that the Football Association of Rhodesia reform to be a multi-racial organisation. Prior to this, only white Rhodesians were selected for the national football team but after 1965 the team became multi-racial.[3] In 1969, Rhodesia took part in the Oceanic 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament. This was their first attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Contrary to the team being viewed as the representative team of white Rhodesians, the team was multi-racial including black players.[4] They were drawn against the Australia national football team. Both legs were held in Lourenço Marques, Portuguese Mozambique as the Rhodesian team were unable to get Australian visas. Rhodesia drew the first leg 1–1 but lost the second leg 3–1 thus eliminating Rhodesia from qualification.[4]
In 1980, following the country's reconstitution as Zimbabwe, they played their first FIFA World Cup qualifying match for 11 years against the Cameroon national football team. However they lost 2–1 on aggregate after a 1–0 win in the first leg in Salisbury and a 2–0 loss in the second leg.[5][6] Following this, the country passed a law that people who held British passports would not be permitted to hold a Zimbabwean passport, which mean that players such as goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, who is considered to be Zimbabwe's greatest goalkeeper,[7]were not selected for the national team for 10 years.[8] Following a change in policy that allowed Grobbelaar to play for Zimbabwe, who entered the country on his British passport, Zimbabwe under manager Reinhard Fabisch were one match away from qualifying for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. However, they lost their final qualifying match to Cameroon.[8][9]
In 2004, Zimbabwe qualified for their first Africa Cup of Nations. During their first match against Egypt, their former anthem "Ishe Komborera Africa" was accidentally played instead of "Simudzai Mureza wedu weZimbabwe", an act which Information Minister Jonathan Moyo called "a cheap attempt by the organisers to demoralise our boys".[10]
In 2015, the Zimbabwe national football team were banned from participating in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying due to an unpaid debt to former coach, José Claudinei.[11] At the time, the team was experiencing its strongest period for many years, qualifying for both the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
On 1 March 2022, Zimbabwe, along with Kenya, was suspended again from international sport due to the interference of the government. Earlier in November 2021, Harare and Nairobi dissolved their federations and were replaced with government-officials. On 31 March, the suspension was made indefinitely and was ratified by FIFA. Suspension is set until Zimbabwe and Kenya meet the demands given by FIFA. The team has produced some of the finest footballers the likes of the legendary Peter Ndlovu who played for Zimbabwe 100 times. He featured in the English premier for Coventry City, Birmingham City, Sheffield United and Huddersfield. Peter Ndlovu is well remembered for the hatrick he scored at Anfield against Liverpool, Bruce Grobelaar former Liverpool Goalkeeper, Norman Mapeza former Galatasary defender, Benjan Mwaruwaru former Man city player. Knowledge Musona former Anderletch and Bundesliga player. Khama Billiat former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs player.
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Results and fixtures
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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2024
23 March Friendly | Zambia ![]() | 2–2 (5–6 p) | ![]() | Lilongwe, Malawi |
Report | Stadium: Bingu National Stadium |
7 June 2026 World Cup qualification | Zimbabwe ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Johannesburg, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report |
|
Stadium: Orlando Stadium Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini) |
11 June 2026 World Cup qualification | South Africa ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Bloemfontein, South Africa |
18:00 UTC+2 | Report |
|
Stadium: Free State Stadium Referee: Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour (Egypt) |
27 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | Zimbabwe ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Gqeberha, South Africa |
15:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
30 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | Zambia ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Gqeberha, South Africa |
15:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium |
2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup | Kenya ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Gqeberha, South Africa |
12:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium |
6 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Kenya ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Kampala, Uganda |
16:00 UTC+3 | Report | Stadium: Mandela National Stadium Referee: Adalbert Douf (Senegal) |
10 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Zimbabwe ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Kampala, Uganda |
19:00 UTC+3 | Report | Stadium: Mandela National Stadium Referee: Mahmoud El Banna (Egypt) |
10 October 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Namibia ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Johannesburg, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report | Billiat ![]() |
Stadium: Orlando Stadium Referee: Patrice Mebiame (Gabon) |
14 October 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Zimbabwe ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Johannesburg, South Africa |
18:00 UTC+2 | Report |
|
Stadium: Orlando Stadium Referee: Yannick Malala (DR Congo) |
10 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Zimbabwe ![]() | 1-1 | ![]() | Polokwane, South Africa |
18:00 CAT (UTC+02:00) | Maswanhise ![]() |
Report | Ayunga ![]() |
Stadium: Peter Mokaba Stadium Referee: Messie Jessie Nkounkou Mvoutou (Congo) |
18 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Cameroon ![]() | 2-1 | ![]() | Yaoundé |
15:00 CAT (UTC+02:00) | Aboubakar ![]() ![]() |
Report | Dzukamanja ![]() |
Stadium: Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo Referee: Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi) |
2025
20 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Zimbabwe ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() | Durban, South Africa |
18:00 UTC+2 | Report (FIFA) Report (CAF) |
Stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia) |
25 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Nigeria ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Uyo, Nigeria |
17:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CAF) |
|
Stadium: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Referee: Tsegay Mogos Teklu (Eritrea) |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Benin ![]() | v | ![]() |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Zimbabwe ![]() | v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Zimbabwe ![]() | v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Lesotho ![]() | v | ![]() |
22 December 2025 AFCON Group B | Egypt ![]() | – | ![]() | Agadir, Morocco |
19:00 UTC+1 | Stadium: Adrar Stadium |
26 December 2025 AFCON Group B | Angola ![]() | v | ![]() | Marrakesh, Morocco |
20:30 UTC+1 | Stadium: Marrakesh Stadium |
29 December 2025 AFCON Group B | Zimbabwe ![]() | v | ![]() | Marrakesh, Morocco |
20:30 UTC+1 | Stadium: Marrakesh Stadium |
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Coaching history
- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
Danny McLennan (1965–1969)
Bill Asprey (1975–1977)
John Rugg (1980–1981)
Shepherd Murape (1981–1983)
Mick Poole (1985)
Ben Koufie (1988–1992)
Reinhard Fabisch (1992–1995)
Rudi Gutendorf (1995–1996)
Bruce Grobbelaar (1996)
Ian Porterfield (1996–1997)
Sunday Chidzambwa (1997)
Bruce Grobbelaar (1997)
Roy Barreto (1997–1998)
Bruce Grobbelaar (1998)
Clemens Westerhof (1998–2000)
Misheck Chidzambwa (2000)
Sunday Chidzambwa (2000–2002)
Wiesław Grabowski (2002)
Sunday Chidzambwa (2003–2004)
Rahman Gumbo (2004)
Charles Mhlauri (2004–2007)
Sunday Chidzambwa (2007)
Norman Mapeza (2007)
Luke Masomore (2007–2008)
José Claudinei (2008)
Sunday Chidzambwa (2008–2009)
Norman Mapeza (2009–2010)
Tom Saintfiet (2010)
Madinda Ndlovu (2010–2011)
Norman Mapeza (2011–2012)
Rahman Gumbo (2012)
Klaus Dieter Pagels (2012–2013)
Ian Gorowa (2013–2014)
Callisto Pasuwa (2015–2017)
Wilson Mutekede (2017)
Sunday Chidzambwa (2017–2019)
Joey Antipas (2019–2020)
Zdravko Logarušić (2020–2021)
Norman Mapeza (2021–2022)
Wilson Mutekede (2022)
Shepherd Murape (2022–2023)
Sunday Chidzambwa (2023)
Baltemar Brito (2023–2024)
Norman Mapeza (2024)
Jairos Tapera (2024)
Michael Nees (2024–)
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Coaching staff

Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coaches | ![]() ![]() |
Goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
Fitness Coach | ![]() |
Match Analyst | ![]() |
Doctors | ![]() ![]() |
Physiotherapists | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Team coordinator | ![]() |
Technical director | ![]() ![]() |
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Players
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Current squad
The following players were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group C matches against Benin and
Nigeria on 20 and 25 March 2025, resectively.[12]
Caps and goals are correct as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Cameroon.
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for Zimbabwe in the last 12 months.
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Records
- As of 19 November 2024[13]
- Players in bold are still active with Zimbabwe.
Most appearances
- Note: U indicates that a player's statistics are unverified.
Top goalscorers
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Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
Africa Cup of Nations
African Nations Championship
African Games
COSAFA Cup
- 1997 – Qualifying round
- 1998 – Second place
- 1999 – Quarter-finals
- 2000 – Winners
- 2001 – Second place
- 2002 – Quarter-finals
- 2003 – Winners
- 2004 – Semi-finals
- 2005 – Winners
- 2006 – Semi-finals
- 2007 – First round
- 2008 – Quarter-finals
- 2009 – Winners
- 2010 – Cancelled
- 2013 – Second place
- 2015 – Group stage
- 2016 – Group stage
- 2017 – Winners
- 2018 – Winners
- 2019 – Third place
- 2020 – Cancelled
- 2021 – Group stage
CECAFA Cup
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Honours
Intercontinental
- Afro-Asian Games
- Bronze Medal (1): 2003[15]
Regional
Minor competitions
- Four Nations Football Tournament
- Runners-up (1): 2024
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
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