AFCON 2025: Zimbabwe appoints new Warriors head coach

By Agencies

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has named veteran Romanian coach Marian Mario Marinica as new head coach of the national team, the Warriors, marking a strategic shift in leadership ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

In a statement on Tuesday night, ZIFA described the appointment as “a new chapter for Zimbabwean football,” citing Marinica’s modern football philosophy and track record of delivering results on the international stage.

“His wealth of experience, modern football philosophy and proven results at international level make him the ideal candidate to lead the Warriors into a new era.”

Marinica brings over 25 years of international experience across four continents, having coached the Paraguayan, Mauritian, Malawian and Liberian national team, as well as having worked with elite clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Liverpool and Monaco.

Under his leadership, Malawi reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, their best-ever finish, while Liberia became the highest climber in the FIFA rankings in June 2024.

Beyond match-day tactics, Marinica has served as a technical director, coach educator and performance consultant, with a strong emphasis on grassroots development and long-term player growth.

Marinica is set to begin his duties immediately, preparing the Warriors for upcoming friendlies against Algeria and Qatar, and laying the groundwork for AFCON 2025 finals scheduled for 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 in Morocco.

Zimbabwe is in Group B of the AFCON 2025 tournament, alongside Angola, Egypt and South Africa.

The appointment comes after Zimbabwe’s disappointing run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers where the Warriors failed to progress beyond the group stage under German coach Michael Nees.

The team struggled with consistency and tactical cohesion, prompting calls for a fresh approach to coaching and player development.