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 six times. The team represents both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
History Zimbabwe 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. Zimbabwe 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. 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.
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
Kit providerPeriod L-Sporto2004–2005 Legea2006–2009 Puma2010–2012 Umbro2013–2014 Joma2015–2016 Mafro2017–2018 Umbro2019–2022 Puma2023–2025
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
2027
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 (2024–2025) Mario Marinică (2025–2026) Kaitano Tembo (2026–2026) Ramon Catala (2026–)
Players Current squad The following players were called-up for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Sierra Leone and DR Congo on 24 and 28 September 2026, respectively.
Caps and goals are correct as of 28 September 2026, after the match against DR Congo.
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
Players in bold are still active with Zimbabwe.
Most appearances
RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer 1 Peter Ndlovu 81 37 1990–2007 2 Adam Ndlovu 74 26 1990–2004 3 Francis Shonhayi 70 1 1989–1998 4 John Phiri 67 3 1983–19955 Khama Billiat 63 18 2011–present Dumisani Mpofu 63 0 1996–20067 Japhet Mparutsa 62 0 1981–1995 Stanley Ndunduma 62 9 1981–1989 Esrom Nyandoro 62 4 2001–2012 10 Knowledge Musona 58 27 2010–present
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer 1 Peter Ndlovu 37 81 1991–2007 2 Knowledge Musona 27 58 2010–present 3 Adam Ndlovu 26 74 1992–2004 4 Agent Sawu 21 47 1990–2004 5 Khama Billiat 18 63 2011–present 6 Vitalis Takawira 13 40 1992–1998 7 Shacky Tauro 11 45 1980–19898 Luke Jukulile 10 15 2000–2001 Benjani Mwaruwari 10 44 1999–201010 Prince Dube 9 29 2017–present Cuthbert Malajila 9 31 2008–2017 Stanley Ndunduma 9 62 1981–1989
Competitive record FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPosition*1930 to 1962Part of Part of as as 1966Did not enterDid not enter 1970Did not qualify from Asia/Oceania zone302124 1974Did not enterDid not enter 1978as as 1982Did not qualify from African zone210112 1986201112 19904013110 1994106221110 199882241010 20028602116 2006125341716 2010613246 2014602449 2018Expelled from qualifying competitionExpelled from qualifying competition 2022Did not qualify from African zone812559 202610055512 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034Total———————792223347296
Africa Cup of Nations Africa Cup of Nations recordAppearances: 6YearRoundPosition* 1957 to 1980Not affiliated to CAF 1982 to 2002Did not qualify 2004Group stage14th310268 200613th310225 2008 to 2015Did not qualify 2017Group stage14th301248 201921st301216 202117th310234 2023Disqualified due to FIFA suspension 2025Group stage20th301246 2027To be determined 2029TotalGroup stage6/351833122037
African Nations Championship African Nations Championship recordAppearances: 5YearRoundPosition* 2009Group stage6th303033 201111th310223 2014Fourth place 4th623132 2016Group stage 13th301213 2018Did not qualify 2020Group stage16th300315 2022Did not qualifyTotalFourth place5/7183781016
African Games
African Games recordYearResultPldWDLGFGA 1965–1987 Did not enter1991–presentSee Zimbabwe national under-23 football teamTotal4/4000000
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
External links
Zimbabwe Football Association at CAF online Zimbabwe Football Association at FIFA