Zimbabwe are back at the Africa Cup of Nations for the 5th time in the country’s history. The Warriors have had to endure a rough last few years to get to this point. Zimbabwe were suspended by FIFA in 2022 for government interference into the Zimbabwe Football Association. The suspension meant that Zimbabwe couldn’t compete in AFCON qualifiers for the 2023 edition of the tournament. The suspension lasted 18 months.
German coach Michael Nees was hired in July of 2024 with the task of getting Zimbabwe back to the Africa Cup of Nations, and with an even loftier goal of reaching the country’s first ever World Cup in 2026. Nees helped lead Zimbabwe to second place finish in AFCON qualifiers behind Cameroon. It was a mixed campaign, with Zimbabwe’s only 2 wins coming against bottom of the group Namibia. But three draws, including drawing Cameroon in Matchday 2, was enough to see them advance. However, Nees and Zimbabwe had a nightmare in World Cup Qualifying, failing to win a single match on their way to a last place finish behind the likes of Rwanda and Lesotho. Nees was sacked following the qualifiers, and with only weeks to go until the Africa Cup of Nations, Zimbabwe hired Romanian Mario Marinică to lead the way.
Marinică will be encouraged by Zimbabwe’s friendly win over Qatar in November, their first win in 2025. Marinică has also already worked on stamping his authority on the team, surprisingly leaving out veteran Khama Billiat from Zimbabwe’s squad for the AFCON.
Zimbabwe are looking to reach the knockout stages of an Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history. They will have to do it without the services of two regular starters in Jordan Zemura and captain Marshall Munetsi, both ruled out with injury.
Potential Starting XI
Coach
Mario Marinică
Marinică is no stranger to managing an African national team, having coached Malawi and Liberia in the past few years.
Players to Watch
Tawanda Maswanhise
Age: 23
Position: LW/RW
Caps/Goals: 14/1
Club: Motherwell FC (Scotland)
The son of a former Zimbabwean sprinter, Tawanda Maswanhise is one of the top young talents in Zimbabwe. Maswanhise was recently named the Scottish Premiership player of the month for November.
Munashe Garananga
Age: 24
Position: CB
Caps/Goals: 15/1
Club: FC Copenhagen (Denmark)
Garananga has become ever-present in the Zimbabwe Starting XI since making his debut in 2023. Garananaga scored his first ever international goal in Zimbabwe’s recent friendly win over Qatar. Seen as a huge part of the future of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Schedule
December 22, 2025 vs. Egypt – Agadir
December 26, 2025 vs. Angola – Marrakesh
December 29, 2025 vs. South Africa – Marrakesh
Country Information
Did you know…
Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, the most in Africa and the third most in the world.
