Zimbabwe national football team

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 four times. Zimbabwe has won the COSAFA Cup a record six times, The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Zimbabwe women's national football team.

Zimbabwe
Nickname(s)The Warriors
AssociationZimbabwe Football Association
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA
(Southern Africa)
Head coachZdravko Logarušić
CaptainKnowledge Musona
Most capsNorman Mapeza (92)
Top scorerPeter Ndlovu (37)
FIFA codeZIM
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 108 (10 December 2020)[1]
Highest40 (April 1995)
Lowest131 (October 2009, February–March 2016)
First international
Southern Rhodesia 0–4 England
(Salisbury, Rhodesia; 26 June 1929)
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
Appearances4 (first in 2004)
Best resultGroup stage (2004, 2006, 2017, 2019)

History

Southern Rhodesia played their first official match against the England Amateur national football team as part of their 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 Confederation of African Football 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 were not selected for the national team for 10 years.[7] 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.[7][8]

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".[9]

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.[10] At the time, the team was experiencing its strongest period for many years, qualifying for both the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Kit Provider
Kit provider Period
L-Sporto 2004-2005
Legea 2006-2009
Umbro 2013-2014
Joma 2015-2016
Mafro 2017–2018
Umbro 2019–present

Achievements
COSAFA Cup :
CECAFA Cup :

Competition records

World Cup record
FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1966 Did not enter Did not enter
1970 Did not qualify from Asia/Oceania zone Did not qualify from Asia/Oceania zone
1974 to 1978 Did not enter Did not enter
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[11] Expelled from qualifying competition
2022 To be determined To be determined
2026 To be determined To be determined
Total—0/21—————— 582116236071

Africa Cup of Nations record
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances: 4
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 To be determined
2023
2025
Total Group stage 4/32 12 2 2 8 13 27

African Nations Championship record
African Nations Championship
Appearances: 5
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
2009Group stage 6th303033
201111th310223
2014Fourth place4th623132
2016Group stage13th301213
2018Did not qualify
2020Group stage16th300315
2022To be determined
Total Fourth place 5/6 15 3 7 5 9 11

African Games record
Football at the African Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991.
African Games record
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA
1965-000000
1973-000000
1978-000000
1987-000000
1991–present See Zimbabwe national under-23 football team
Total4/4000000

COSAFA Cup record
  • 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

COSAFA Cup
Main article: COSAFA Cup
COSAFA Cup Record
Year Rank Pld W D L GF GA
1997 0000000
1998 0000000
1999 0000000
2000 0000000
2001 0000000
2002 0000000
2003 0000000
2004 0000000
2005 0000000
2006 0000000
2007 0000000
2008 0000000
2009 0000000
2013 0000000
2015 0000000
2016 0000000
2017 0000000
2018 0000000
2019 0000000
Total 0/19 ------

CECAFA Cup record
  • 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

Results and fixtures
Main article: Zimbabwe national football team results – 2000s

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

2020
11 October Friendly Malawi  0–0  Zimbabwe Blantyre, Malawi
15:30 CAT Stadium: Kamuzu Stadium
12 November 2021 AFCON Q Algeria  3–1  Zimbabwe Algiers, Algeria
20:00 CAT
Stadium: Stade du 5 Juillet
Referee: Sidi Alioum (Cameroon)
16 November 2021 AFCON Q Zimbabwe  v  Algeria Harare, Zimbabwe
CAT Stadium: National Sports Stadium

    Players

    Current squad
    No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
    1 1GK Elvis Chipezeze (1990-03-11) 11 March 1990 7 0 Baroka
    23 1GK Talbert Shumba (1990-05-12) 12 May 1990 5 0 Chapungu United
    19 1GK Nelson Chadya (1997-04-05) 5 April 1997 0 0 Ngezi Platinum
    2 2DF Tendayi Darikwa (1991-12-13) 13 December 1991 9 0 Wigan Athletic
    3 2DF Jordan Zemura (1999-11-14) 14 November 1999 1 0 Bournemouth
    4 2DF Adam Chicksen (1991-09-27) 27 September 1991 2 0 Notts County
    5 2DF Divine Lunga (1995-05-28) 28 May 1995 16 0 Lamontville Golden Arrows
    6 2DF Alec Mudimu (1995-04-08) 8 April 1995 20 0 Sheriff Tiraspol
    15 2DF Teenage Hadebe (1995-09-17) 17 September 1995 29 4 Yeni Malatyaspor
    20 2DF Jimmy Dzingai (1990-11-21) 21 November 1990 7 0 Nkana
    22 2DF Victor Kamhuka (1990-04-02) 2 April 1990 0 0 Ayeyawady United
    8 3MF Tafadzwa Rusike (1989-05-07) 7 May 1989 19 2 ZESCO United
    10 3MF Ovidy Karuru (1989-01-23) 23 January 1989 41 7 Stellenbosch
    11 3MF Khama Billiat (1990-08-19) 19 August 1990 46 17 Kaizer Chiefs
    12 3MF King Nadolo (1995-12-04) 4 December 1995 2 0 Dynamos
    16 3MF Kudakwashe Mahachi (1993-09-29) 29 September 1993 33 3 SuperSport United
    17 3MF Knowledge Musona (1990-06-21) 21 June 1990 44 23 Eupen
    18 3MF Marvelous Nakamba (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 23 0 Aston Villa
    7 4FW Terrence Dzvukamanja (1994-05-05) 5 May 1994 9 0 Bidvest Wits
    13 4FW Prince Dube (1997-02-17) 17 February 1997 11 7 Azam
    14 4FW Tino Kadewere (1996-01-05) 5 January 1996 18 3 Lyon
    21 4FW David Moyo (1994-12-17) 17 December 1994 2 0 Hamilton Academical

    Recent call-ups

    The following players have been called up for Zimbabwe in the last 12 months.

    Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
    DF Ian Nekati (1989-08-07) 7 August 1989 8 0 ZPC Kariba v.  Malawi, 11 October 2020
    DF MacClive Phiri (1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 4 0 Bidvest Wits v.  Malawi, 11 October 2020
    MF Wellington Taderera (1995-04-27) 27 April 1995 3 1 Ngezi Platinum v.  Malawi, 11 October 2020
    FW Charlton Mashumba (1992-12-12) 12 December 1992 5 0 Polokwane City v.  Malawi, 11 October 2020
    FW Evans Katema (1988-05-14) 14 May 1988 3 0 Zanaco v.  Malawi, 11 October 2020
    FW Takudzwa Chimwemwe (1992-10-26) 26 October 1992 2 0 Buildcon v.  Malawi, 11 October 2020
    FW Stanley Ngala (1996-01-09) 9 January 1996 0 0 Platinum v.  Malawi, 11 October 2020

    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
    As of 10 September 2019
    Players in bold text are still active with Zimbabwe.

    References
    1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
    2. "England Matches – Unofficial". Englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    3. Gilchrist, Paul (2013). The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity. Routledge. p. 51. ISBN 1317990994.
    4. "When Rhodesia flirted with the World Cup". FIFA.com. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    5. "Cameroon national football team: record v Zimbabwe". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises Limited. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    6. "1982 FIFA World Cup Spain – Matches – Zimbabwe-Cameroon". FIFA.com. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    7. Hawkey, Ian. "When Peter Ndlovu and Bruce Grobbelaar made Zimbabwe dare to dream". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
    8. "World Cup 1994 Qualifying". Rsssf. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    9. "Anger over Zimbabwe anthem gaffe". BBC News. 26 January 2004. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    10. "Zimbabwe expelled from 2018 World Cup". BBC Sport. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    11. "Zimbabwe expelled from the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA.com. 12 March 2015.
    12. Zimbabwe - National Football Teams
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