Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA are attending to every detail to ensure that they optimise and maximise on every FIFA window for internationals to ensure both the Warriors and Mighty Warriors are constantly playing football.
The Warriors are preparing for their sixth appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in December-January.
Zimbabwe, who will face Angola, Egypt and South Africa in Group B at the AFCON will be using the FIFA break as the last lap before they focus on the Nations Cup training camp.
The Warriors will face Algeria in Jedah, Saudi Arabia next on November 13 before flying out to Doha for a date against Qatar five days later. The Middle East country will afford the team a chance to have a feel of the climatic conditions they will likely play under in Morocco.
It will also be the first time that newly-appointed coach Marian “Mario” Marinica will get to assess the Warriors squad, which will be at his disposal.
Romanian Marinica was named the Warriors coach on Monday, replacing sacked German Michael Nees.
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ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi in confirming the match in Saudi Arabia, noted that the move would help the Warriors “get the feel of the likely climatic conditions they will have in Morocco when they play in Saudi Arabia.
“We are trying to attend to every detail so that the Warriors can be ready for the AFCON.
“We are looking at the new coach first having a local camp here then the Warriors will move to Morocco where we have secured a base for them.
“Initially the plan was to go to Spain but in consultation with the team, they opted to go and camp in Morocco and avoid too much travelling,’’ Magwizi said.
After naming Marinica as the coach, ZIFA in consultation with the former Malawi and Liberia manager, are also expected to announce his assistants.
The 60-year-old coach is also expected to reveal his squad for the two matches, amid hopes by fans to see the Warriors bounce back to winning ways after a winless spell in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers cost Nees his job.
Mighty Warriors back in business
As skipper Marvelous Nakamba and his troops look to head to Saudi Arabia for their assignments, ZIFA have also ensured the Mighty Warriors make use of the FIFA break.
The Mighty Warriors have been entered into in a four-team international tournament to be staged in Malawi later this month.
That tourney will feature COSAFA heavyweights — South Africa and Zambia alongside the hosts at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe from November 29.
Mighty Warriors coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda’s charges have played just 180 minutes of football this year, via a two-legged Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in which they came a cropper against Angola.
With the COSAFA Women’s Championship cancelled, they were sure not to kick a ball again in 2025 especially after being dumped by Angola in those games.
But ZIFA decided to register them for the tourney as they set on elevating women’s football in the country.
ZIFA vice-president Loveness Mukura, who is the Women’s Football Committee chairperson said women’s football will be more visible going forward.
“I can confirm that the Mighty Warriors will play in a four-team, high-profile tournament that will feature South Africa, Zambia and the hosts Malawi in Lilongwe from November 29 to December 2,” said Mukura.
“We are definitely thrilled with the development. The games will be played at the Bingu National Stadium and as ZIFA, we are excited to be seconding our senior women’s team in this contest.
“I think our primary objective is to have the games played. We are very much alive to the fact that the girls didn’t have much game time this year.
“We were hoping that they could play in the COSAFA Women’s Championships. But this tournament will only happen next year.
“So, we have decided to enter them in the four-team tournament in Malawi and we are happy with that.”
Sibanda is expected to announce her squad for the tournament in the coming few days.
In line with their vision, ZIFA have since launched their national development strategy for women’s football in a bid to improve the game.
“The approval of the Zimbabwe Women’s Football Strategy framework by the Executive Committee marks a significant milestone for women’s football development in the country.
“Building on this achievement, the next step is to officially launch the strategy booklet, which presents a snapshot of the strategic framework and its key pillars,’’ added Mukura.
“To create excitement and visibility ahead of the booklet launch, the Technical Department has since proposed to showcase a practical snippet of one of the strategy’s core-activities: Grassroots Girls Football Festivals(U13).
“These festivals highlight the strategy’s commitment to increasing participation, visibility, and empowerment of young girls in football.
“We aim to partner with NAPH and Harare City Council in hosting this event, with the
Council providing the facility (field of play) and engaging school students from both government and council schools as participants (approximately 200 girls) in the Highfield community.”
