daniel chigunweThe AFCON 2025 qualifiers, the road to Africa’s major continental showpiece, is around the corner, and the Zimbabwe national team are gearing up to fight for a place in the finals. Football in Zimbabwe has had a very eventful couple of years, more so for the wrong reasons. However, these upcoming qualifiers and the prospect of being among the 24 teams to advance is an excellent chance for the Warriors to write a new chapter.
Let’s take a look at the details and hurdles that the Zimbabwe national team will face, as well as their chances in the coming AFCON qualifiers.
Their chances in the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers
The Zimbabwe national team have had a host of field issues, which led to a ban by FIFA, preventing them from taking part in 2023’s AFCON qualifiers. A normalisation committee was also set up to help restore the damaging action of the Zimbabwe FA. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing as the committee set up to manage the footballing affairs has failed to do just that. Their inability to find a permanent coach and the constant meddling in technical issues like player selection are ongoing issues. The Warriors of Zimbabwe, who are drawn in Group J, will need to navigate a host of other African nations to make it to the tournament proper in Morocco next year.
Kenya
Their first major test comes in the form of the Warriors bogey team, who they play away in the first qualifying match. The Kenyan team has a favourable head-to-head, winning six of the last 11 encounters while losing only once. This psychological disadvantage is one obstacle for the Zimbabwe national team to overcome.
Cameroon
One of the most successful teams in AFCON’s history, Cameroon shares Group J with Zimbabwe. The indomitable lions of Cameroon have not been in the best form recently, so there may be good odds for an upset at leading bookmakers for zimbabwe football bets. But even at the best betting sites, Cameroon is largely considered the group favourite, with second place a three-way tussle for the remaining teams.
Namibia
Namibia makes up the teams sharing group J with Zimbabwe. The recent history between these southern African nations has been even, with Namibia slightly ahead. These two geographically close nations are very familiar with each other, and this may work in favour of the Warriors. The latter’s ability to come out on top against their neighbours can bring them one step closer to qualification.
Factors that may boost their chances of qualification
Despite coming off a poor start to their World Cup qualifiers, Zimbabwe still has a chance of pulling off an AFCON 2025 qualification. The recent appointment of new coach Michael Nees by the interim committee is a step in the right direction for Zimbabwe football. Nees comes with a wealth of experience in terms of African football, having previously managed Rwanda and Seychelles, and will be a valuable addition.
The Warriors have dropped down in ranks during their FIFA ban, but there’s no denying that they boast quality players, many of whom are plying their trade in Europe – Tino Kadewere (League 1), Jordan Zemura (Serie A), and Leon Chiwome (EPL). The blend of youth and experience across the ranks could also be a game-changer for the team.
As CAF ruled all stadiums in Zimbabwe as unfit for international games, the Warriors won’t have home advantage on their side and will have a lot of work to do in order to qualify for AFCON 2025, but there’s a good chance of making it to the finals. The qualifiers will start in September 2024 and end in November 2024, while the championship is scheduled to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
Online Reporter