Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
THE Warriors are set to play high-profile international friendly matches against Morocco, who were semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup and are currently Africa’s number one ranked team.
Exchange programmes between Zifa and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), which will create opportunities for local coaches and administrators across the national structure, are also in the pipeline.
Domestic women’s football, for years a marginalised sector, will also benefit from this exciting partnership between Zimbabwe and Morocco.
This collaboration has been made possible thanks to a landmark partnership deal between Zifa and the FRMF, which was finalised on Saturday night in Morocco.
Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi was in the North African country, where he signed a two-year agreement with his Moroccan Football Association counterpart, Fouzi Lekjaa.
According to a Zifa communique, the historic deal is expected to strengthen football development in both nations through initiatives such as, training programmes for coaches, referees and administrators, Youth and women’s football development, friendly matches for senior and youth teams Exchange programmes and joint events
The Moroccans, whose world-class facilities have inspired many countries, are also set to host and support Zifa delegations, while Zimbabwe will facilitate tours for Moroccan teams, among other obligations.
In the build-up to his election on January 25 into Zifa leadership, Magwizi had pledged to establish international synergies with other successful associations.
The Zifa president and his executive committee, fully aware of the substantial ground the association needs to cover in terms of development and capacity building, have immediately set to work to transform an organisation that had lost its way over the years, amid numerous challenges that led to government intervention.
There have already been tangible achievements in the first 50 days of the board’s tenure.
The deal with the Morocco FA, one of several expected to be established with other Fifa and Caf member associations, could help transform Zimbabwean football and improve the welfare of players, while building the capacities of coaches, technical officials and administrators.
Possible friendly matches against Morocco’s Atlas Lions could be a huge boon for Zimbabwe, who are preparing for a sixth appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Coincidentally, Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December.
Morocco will also stage the 2026 Caf Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
While the Warriors will be part of the Afcon tournament in December, the Mighty Warriors fell short in their bid to qualify for the 2026 Wafcon after being eliminated by Angola.
Zifa’s efforts to emulate Morocco are commendable, particularly given the stalling of junior development in Zimbabwe.
Morocco has re-emerged as one of the key players in football development on the continent. The North Africans have undergone a remarkable transformation, with the Atlas Lions now ranked as Africa’s best team.
Their rise has been driven by a strong football development strategy, which has produced star players, including Paris Saint-Germain and former Real Madrid right-back Achraf Hakimi, goalkeeper Yassine Bonou, former Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, and ex-Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech.
Morocco became the first African country to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022 and is currently ranked 14th in the world.
Zifa also emphasised the significance of the engagement, stating:
“This partnership underscores Zifa’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with leading football associations across the continent. Morocco has become a key player in African football development, and this dialogue presents valuable opportunities for collaboration in areas such as technical development, infrastructure and administration,” Zifa said in a statement before Magwizi’s trip to Morocco.
The Zifa president also toured Niger, gaining insights into the West African country’s development programmes and the association’s academy.
This comes as Zifa undertakes a massive refurbishment of the Zifa Village in Mt Hampden, funded by Fifa’s financial assistance, which was initially provided to the Normalisation Committee.
There is hope that once the works are completed, the ZIFA Village will become a fully-fledged training centre with boarding facilities, offices, training pitches, and boardrooms where national teams can camp.
The new Zifa board has identified infrastructure development as one of its key deliverables.
As a result, an Infrastructure Committee, led by Harare businessman and board member Brighton Ushendibaba, has been established to oversee the improvements and construction of facilities.
