Zimbabwe national football team


The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, represents Zimbabwe in men's international football and it is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association, 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.

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. 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 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. They were drawn against the Australia national football team. Both legs were held in Lourenco 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 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.

Achievements

Competition records

World Cup record

Africa Cup of Nations record

African Nations Championship record

African Games record

COSAFA Cup record

CECAFA Cup record

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

2019

Source:

Players

Current squad

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

#PlayerCapsGoalsCareer
1Peter Ndlovu100381991–2007
2Norman Mapeza9201993–2001
3Tinashe Nengomasha3112003–2012
4Gilbert Mushangazhike8741997–2008
5Esrom Nyandoro5642001–2012
6Thomas Sweswe4522006–2011
7Benjani Mwaruwari42101999–2010
8Khama Billiat41152011–
=Danny Phiri4122012–
10Knowledge Musona40222010–

#PlayerGoalsCapsCareer
1Peter Ndlovu381001991–2007
2Knowledge Musona22402010–
3Khama Billiat15412011–
4Benjani Mwaruwari10421999–2010
5Tinashe Nengomasha9902003–2012
6Ovidy Karuru7392007–
7Nyasha Mushekwi6212009–
8Knox Mutizwa5162009–