Zimbabwe national football team

History

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. 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. 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.

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. 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,were not selected for the national team for 10 years. 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.

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".

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. 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

Results and fixtures

Main article: Zimbabwe national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2025

• Munetsi
• Musona
• Mounié
• Dokou Report (CAF) Report (CAF)
• Dlamini
• Okon
• Calção
• Ngwenya
• Makunike
• Mounié
• Mugisha
• Musona
• Mbokazi
• Kalake
• Bounedjah
• Amoura
• Hadjam
• Chirewa
• Gouda
• Garananga
• Antonio
• Salah
• Modiba
• Foster
• Appollis

Coaching history

:Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

• SCO Danny McLennan (1965–1969)
• ENG Bill Asprey (1975–1977)
• SCO John Rugg (1980–1981)
• ZIM Shepherd Murape (1981–1983)
• ENG Mick Poole (1985)
• GHA Ben Koufie (1988–1992)
• GER Reinhard Fabisch (1992–1995)
• GER Rudi Gutendorf (1995–1996)
• ZIM Bruce Grobbelaar (1996)
• SCO Ian Porterfield (1996–1997)
• ZIM Sunday Chidzambwa (1997)
• ZIM Bruce Grobbelaar (1997)
• POR Roy Barreto (1997–1998)
• ZIM Bruce Grobbelaar (1998)
• NED Clemens Westerhof (1998–2000)
• ZIM Misheck Chidzambwa (2000)
• ZIM Sunday Chidzambwa (2000–2002)
• POL Wiesław Grabowski (2002)
• ZIM Sunday Chidzambwa (2003–2004)
• ZIM Rahman Gumbo (2004)
• ZIM Charles Mhlauri (2004–2007)
• ZIM Sunday Chidzambwa (2007)
• ZIM Norman Mapeza (2007)
• ZIM Luke Masomore (2007–2008)
• BRA José Claudinei (2008)
• ZIM Sunday Chidzambwa (2008–2009)
• ZIM Norman Mapeza (2009–2010)
• BEL Tom Saintfiet (2010)
• ZIM Madinda Ndlovu (2010–2011)
• ZIM Norman Mapeza (2011–2012)
• ZIM Rahman Gumbo (2012)
• GER Klaus Dieter Pagels (2012–2013)
• ZIM Ian Gorowa (2013–2014)
• ZIM Callisto Pasuwa (2015–2017)
• ZIM Wilson Mutekede (2017)
• ZIM Sunday Chidzambwa (2017–2019)
• ZIM Joey Antipas (2019–2020)
• CRO Zdravko Logarušić (2020–2021)
• ZIM Norman Mapeza (2021–2022)
• ZIM Wilson Mutekede (2022)
• ZIM Shepherd Murape (2022–2023)
• ZIM Sunday Chidzambwa (2023)
• BRA Baltemar Brito (2023–2024)
• ZIM Norman Mapeza (2024)
• ZIM Jairos Tapera (2024)
• GER Michael Nees (2024–2025)
• ROU Mario Marinică (2025–)

Coaching staff

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026.

Caps and goals are correct as of 29 December 2025, after the match against South Africa.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Zimbabwe in the last 12 months. DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.

INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.

PRE Preliminary squad.

RET Player has retired from international football.

SUS Suspended from the national team, red or yellow cards.

Records

!W !D* !L !GF !GA !Pld !W !D !L !GF !GA |-

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

• 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

Honours

Intercontinental

• Afro-Asian Games
  • Bronze Medal (1): 2003

Regional

• COSAFA Cup
  • Champions (6): 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2017, 2018
  • Runners-up (3): 1998, 2001, 2013
  • Third place (1): 2019
• CECAFA Cup
  • Champions (1): 1985
  • Runners-up (2): 1983, 1987
  • Third place (1): 1982

References

References

1. "England Matches – Unofficial". Englandfootballonline.com.
2. Gilchrist, Paul. (2013). "The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity". Routledge.
3. (2016-08-29). "When Rhodesia flirted with the World Cup". FIFA.com.
4. "Cameroon national football team: record v Zimbabwe". AFS Enterprises Limited.
5. (2016-07-23). "1982 FIFA World Cup Spain – Matches – Zimbabwe-Cameroon". FIFA.com.
6. (2022-08-28). "Bruce Grobbelaar: Zimbabwe's Legendary Goalkeeper". Boxscore World Sportswire.
7. Hawkey, Ian. (19 August 2015). "When Peter Ndlovu and Bruce Grobbelaar made Zimbabwe dare to dream.". The Guardian.
8. (2016-06-09). "World Cup 1994 Qualifying". Rsssf.
9. (2004-01-26). "Anger over Zimbabwe anthem gaffe". BBC News.
10. (2015-03-12). "Zimbabwe expelled from 2018 World Cup". BBC Sport.
11. (11 December 2025). "The wait is over. Here is the final Warriors AFCON 2025 squad to represent Zimbabwe in Morocco".
12. "Zimbabwe".
13. "Zimbabwe - Record International Players".
14. (12 March 2015). "Zimbabwe expelled from the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA.com.
15. (2001). "Afro-Asian Games 2003".