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Zimbabwe national football team

Men's association football team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zimbabwe national football team
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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)
 Zimbabwe Lilongwe, Malawi
Report Stadium: Bingu National Stadium
26 March Friendly Zimbabwe  1–3  Kenya Lilongwe, Malawi
Report Stadium: Bingu National Stadium
7 June 2026 World Cup qualification Zimbabwe  0–2  Lesotho Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2 Report
  • Rasethuntša 21'
  • Thabantso 31'
Stadium: Orlando Stadium
Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini)
11 June 2026 World Cup qualification South Africa  3–1  Zimbabwe 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  Comoros Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00
  • Tapera 53'
Report Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
30 June 2024 COSAFA Cup Zambia  0–2  Zimbabwe Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00 Report
  • Tapera 8'
  • Benhura 43'
Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium
2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup Kenya  2–0  Zimbabwe Gqeberha, South Africa
12:00 Report Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium
6 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Kenya  0–0  Zimbabwe 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  Cameroon 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  Zimbabwe Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2 Report Billiat 34' (pen.) Stadium: Orlando Stadium
Referee: Patrice Mebiame (Gabon)
14 October 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Zimbabwe  3–1  Namibia Johannesburg, South Africa
18:00 UTC+2
Report
  • Eiseb 90'
Stadium: Orlando Stadium
Referee: Yannick Malala (DR Congo)
10 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Zimbabwe  1-1  Kenya Polokwane, South Africa
18:00 CAT (UTC+02:00) Maswanhise 32' Report Ayunga 52' Stadium: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Referee: Messie Jessie Nkounkou Mvoutou (Congo)
18 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Cameroon  2-1  Zimbabwe Yaoundé
15:00 CAT (UTC+02:00) Aboubakar 18', N'Koudou 23' Report Dzukamanja 73' Stadium: Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo
Referee: Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)

2025

20 March 2026 World Cup qualification Zimbabwe  2–2  Benin Durban, South Africa
18:00 UTC+2
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)
22 December 2025 AFCON Group B Egypt   Zimbabwe Agadir, Morocco
19:00 UTC+1 Stadium: Adrar Stadium
26 December 2025 AFCON Group B Angola  v  Zimbabwe Marrakesh, Morocco
20:30 UTC+1 Stadium: Marrakesh Stadium
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Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
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Coaching staff

Thumb
Bruce Grobbelaar played for Zimbabwe and managed Zimbabwe
Head coach Germany Michael Nees
Assistant coaches Zimbabwe Harold Ngwenya
Zimbabwe Creedence Zinyemba
Goalkeeping coach Zimbabwe Austin Chigwedere
Fitness Coach Zimbabwe Donald Mupfumi
Match Analyst Zimbabwe Kingsley Chirwa
Doctors Zimbabwe Dr. Takunda Mavhunga
Zimbabwe Dr. John Chikokore
Physiotherapists Zimbabwe James Chikanga
Zimbabwe Kathleen Mkhize
Zimbabwe David Nyamuzihwa
Zimbabwe Richard Mupanga
Team coordinator Zimbabwe Preston Nyoni
Technical director Zimbabwe Norman Mapeza
Botswana Jethro Hunidzarira
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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.

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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

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Note: U indicates that a player's statistics are unverified.

Top goalscorers

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Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

More information FIFA World Cup record, Qualification record ...

Africa Cup of Nations

More information Africa Cup of Nations record, Appearances: 6 ...

African Nations Championship

More information African Nations Championship record, Appearances: 5 ...

African Games

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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

  • 1981 – Group stage
  • 1982 – Third place
  • 1983 – Second place
  • 1984 – Group stage
  • 1985 Winners
  • 1987 – Second place
  • 1988 – Fourth place
  • 1989 – Group stage
  • 1990 – Group stage
  • 2009 – Quarter-finals
  • 2011 – Quarter-finals
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Honours

Intercontinental

Regional

Minor competitions

References

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