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 five times. Zimbabwe has also won the COSAFA Cup a record six times. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Nickname(s) | The Warriors | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Association | Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) | |||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
Sub-confederation | COSAFA (Southern Africa) | |||
Head coach | Michael Nees | |||
Captain | Marshall Munetsi | |||
Most caps | Peter Ndlovu (81) | |||
Top scorer | Peter Ndlovu (37) | |||
Home stadium | National Sports Stadium | |||
FIFA code | ZIM | |||
| ||||
FIFA ranking | ||||
Current | 117 7 (24 October 2024)[1] | |||
Highest | 39 (April 1994) | |||
Lowest | 131 (October 2009, February–March 2016) | |||
First international | ||||
Southern Rhodesia 0–4 Northern Rhodesia (Southern Rhodesia; 1946) | ||||
Biggest win | ||||
Botswana 0–7 Zimbabwe (Gaborone, Botswana; 26 August 1990) | ||||
Biggest defeat | ||||
South Africa 7–0 Rhodesia (South Africa; 9 April 1977) | ||||
Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
Appearances | 5 (first in 2004) | |||
Best result | Group stage (2004, 2006, 2017, 2019, 2021) | |||
African Nations Championship | ||||
Appearances | 5 (first in 2009) | |||
Best result | Fourth place (2014) | |||
COSAFA Cup | ||||
Appearances | 20 (first in 1997) | |||
Best result | Champions (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2018) | |||
Four Nations Football Tournament | ||||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2024) | |||
Best result | Runner-up (2024) | |||
History
editSouthern 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[5]
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.[6][7] 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, [8]were not selected for the national team for 10 years.[9] 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.[9][10]
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".[11]
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.[12] 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.
Kit provider
editKit provider | Period |
---|---|
L-Sporto | 2004–2005 |
Legea | 2006–2009 |
Puma | 2010–2012 |
Umbro | 2013–2014 |
Joma | 2015–2016 |
Mafro | 2017–2018 |
Umbro | 2019–2022 |
Puma | 2023–present |
Results and fixtures
editThe 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
2023
edit15 November 2026 World Cup qualification | Rwanda | 0–0 | Zimbabwe | Butare, Rwanda |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Stade Huye Referee: Mohamed Ali Moussa (Niger) |
19 November 2026 World Cup qualification | Zimbabwe | 1–1 | Nigeria | Butare, Rwanda |
15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stade Huye Attendance: 2,876 Referee: Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti) |
2024
edit23 March Friendly | Zambia | 2–2 (5–6 p) | Zimbabwe | 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 |
|
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 |
|
Report | Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
30 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | Zambia | 0–2 | Zimbabwe | Gqeberha, South Africa |
15:00 | Report | 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 |
|
Stadium: Orlando Stadium Referee: Yannick Malala (DR Congo) |
10 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Zimbabwe | v | Kenya | TBA |
Stadium: TBA |
18 November 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Cameroon | v | Zimbabwe | TBA |
Stadium: TBA |
Coaching history
edit- 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 (2024–2024)
- Michael Nees (2024–)
Coaching staff
editHead coach | Michael Nees |
Assistant coaches | Harold Ngwenya Creedence Zinyemba |
Goalkeeping coach | Austin Chigwedere |
Fitness Coach | Donald Mupfumi |
Match Analyst | Kingsley Chirwa |
Doctors | Dr. Takunda Mavhunga Dr. John Chikokore |
Physiotherapists | James Chikanga Kathleen Mkhize David Nyamuzihwa Richard Mupanga |
Team coordinator | Preston Nyoni |
Technical director | Norman Mapeza |
Players
editCurrent squad
editThe following players were selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Kenya and Cameroon on 6 and 10 September 2024.[13]
Caps and goals are correct as of 11 June 2024, after the match against South Africa.
Recent call-ups
editThe following players have been called up for Zimbabwe in the last 12 months.
Records
edit- As of 14 October 2024[14]
- Players in bold are still active with Zimbabwe.
Most appearances
editRank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peter Ndlovu | 81 | 37 | 1991–2007 |
2 | John Phiri U | 62 | 1 | 1983–1997 |
3 | Adam Ndlovu | 57 | 34 | 1990–2004 |
4 | Esrom Nyandoro | 56 | 4 | 2001–2012 |
5 | Khama Billiat | 55 | 18 | 2011–present |
6 | Dumisani Mpofu | 52 | 0 | 1996–2006 |
Knowledge Musona | 52 | 25 | 2010–2022 | |
8 | Ovidy Karuru | 50 | 7 | 2007–2021 |
9 | Ronald Sibanda | 49 | 3 | 1997–2007 |
10 | Onismor Bhasera | 45 | 0 | 2006–2022 |
- Note: U indicates that a player's statistics are unverified.
Top goalscorers
editRank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peter Ndlovu | 37 | 81 | 0.46 | 1991–2007 |
2 | Adam Ndlovu | 34 | 57 | 0.6 | 2010–2012 |
3 | Knowledge Musona | 25 | 52 | 0.48 | 2010–2022 |
4 | Agent Sawu | 18 | 57 | 0.32 | 1990–2004 |
Khama Billiat | 18 | 55 | 0.33 | 2011–present | |
6 | Vitalis Takawira | 12 | 30 | 0.4 | 1992–1998 |
7 | Luke Jukulile | 10 | 15 | 0.67 | 2000–2001 |
Benjani Mwaruwari | 10 | 42 | 0.24 | 1999–2010 | |
9 | Stanley Ndunduma | 9 | 17 | 0.53 | 1983–1989 |
Cuthbert Malajila | 9 | 32 | 0.28 | 2008–2017 |
Competitive record
editFIFA World Cup
editFIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
1930 to 1962 | Part of United Kingdom | Part of United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||
as Rhodesia | as Rhodesia | |||||||||||||||
1966 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
1970 | Did not qualify from Asia/Oceania zone | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||
1974 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
1978 | ||||||||||||||||
as Zimbabwe | as Zimbabwe | |||||||||||||||
1982 | Did not qualify from African zone | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
1986 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
1990 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||
1994 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 10 | ||||||||||
1998 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||
2002 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 6 | ||||||||||
2006 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 16 | ||||||||||
2010 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||
2014 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 9 | ||||||||||
2018 | Expelled from qualifying competition[15] | Expelled from qualifying competition | ||||||||||||||
2022 | Did not qualify from African zone | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 9 | |||||||||
2026 | To be determined | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
2030 | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
2034 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | — | 0/15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 73 | 22 | 20 | 31 | 69 | 90 |
Africa Cup of Nations
editAfrica Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appearances: 5 | ||||||||
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
1957 to 1980 | Not affiliated to CAF | |||||||
1982 to 2002 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2004 | Group stage | 14th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
2006 | 13th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
2008 to 2015 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2017 | Group stage | 14th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
2019 | 21st | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | |
2021 | 17th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
2023 | Disqualified due to FIFA suspension | |||||||
2025 | To be determined | |||||||
2027 | ||||||||
2029 | ||||||||
Total | Group stage | 5/34 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 31 |
African Nations Championship
editAfrican Nations Championship record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appearances: 5 | ||||||||
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
2009 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
2011 | 11th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
2014 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
2016 | Group stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
2018 | Did not qualify | |||||||
2020 | Group stage | 16th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
2022 | Did not qualify | |||||||
Total | Fourth place | 5/7 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 16 |
African Games
editAfrican Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1965–1987 | Did not enter | |||||||
1991–present | See Zimbabwe national under-23 football team | |||||||
Total | 4/4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
COSAFA Cup
edit- 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
editHonours
editIntercontinental
edit- Afro-Asian Games
- Bronze Medal (1): 2003[16]
Regional
editMinor competitions
edit- Four Nations Football Tournament
- Runners-up (1): 2024
References
edit- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "England Matches – Unofficial". Englandfootballonline.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ Gilchrist, Paul (2013). The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity. Routledge. p. 51. ISBN 978-1317990994.
- ^ a b "When Rhodesia flirted with the World Cup". FIFA.com. 29 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "Cameroon national football team: record v Zimbabwe". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises Limited. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "1982 FIFA World Cup Spain – Matches – Zimbabwe-Cameroon". FIFA.com. 23 July 2016. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "Bruce Grobbelaar: Zimbabwe's Legendary Goalkeeper". Boxscore World Sportswire. 28 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ a b Hawkey, Ian. "When Peter Ndlovu and Bruce Grobbelaar made Zimbabwe dare to dream". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ "World Cup 1994 Qualifying". Rsssf. 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "Anger over Zimbabwe anthem gaffe". BBC News. 26 January 2004. Archived from the original on 29 February 2004. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "Zimbabwe expelled from 2018 World Cup". BBC Sport. 12 March 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "Warriors Squad". Twitter. Zimbabwe Football Association.
- ^ "Zimbabwe". National Football Teams.
- ^ "Zimbabwe expelled from the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA.com. 12 March 2015. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Arunava; Stokkermans, Karel (2001). "Afro-Asian Games 2003". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
External links
edit- Zimbabwe Football Association at CAF online
- Zimbabwe Football Association at FIFA