ZIFA flooded with global interest as search for Warriors coach nears end
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has confirmed that more than 300 coaches from around the world have applied for the vacant Warriors head coach position — with former Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City manager Chris Hughton among the most high-profile candidates.
ZIFA’s online application portal officially closed on Thursday, drawing significant global attention. The interest in leading Zimbabwe’s national team has come from both local and international coaches, including several with European top-flight and African continental experience.
Hughton, aged 66, boasts an impressive résumé. A former Tottenham, Newcastle United, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest manager, he also guided Ghana’s Black Stars during their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign. His combination of Premier League and international experience positions him as one of the standout names in contention.
According to sources within ZIFA, the association also received applications from Harry Redknapp, Bruce Grobbelaar, and Tom Saintfiet, among others. The flood of applications follows the dismissal of German coach Michael Nees, whose 15-month spell ended last week after a poor World Cup qualifying campaign. Despite steering Zimbabwe to the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco, Nees failed to win a single qualifier, with the Warriors finishing bottom of Group C.
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi confirmed earlier this week that the new coach will be announced by Monday or Tuesday next week, with the Technical and Executive Committees now reviewing applications and compiling a final shortlist. The selection criteria are stringent — only candidates holding CAF Pro or UEFA Pro Licences and with at least five years’ experience managing at national or continental level were eligible.
“The standards we set were deliberate,” a ZIFA spokesperson said. “Zimbabwe deserves a coach capable of restoring pride in the national team and achieving tangible results. The Warriors remain an attractive brand despite recent setbacks, and the calibre of applicants confirms that.”
The new Warriors coach will have little time to settle in. Zimbabwe is scheduled to face Algeria and Qatar in international friendlies during the November FIFA window — fixtures arranged to fine-tune preparations ahead of the AFCON finals. The Warriors will meet Algeria in Saudi Arabia on November 13, before taking on Qatar four days later.
Locally, names such as Kaitano Tembo, Tonderai Ndiraya, and Callisto Pasuwa have also been floated as potential candidates. Tembo, who served as Nees’s assistant and currently holds the interim role, is believed to be a strong contender due to his rapport with the squad.
The upcoming AFCON will test Zimbabwe’s readiness under new leadership. The Warriors are drawn in a challenging group with Egypt, Angola, and South Africa, and are aiming to progress beyond the group stages for the first time since their maiden appearance in Tunisia 2004.
With global attention on Harare and a pool of heavyweight applicants, ZIFA now faces a crucial decision that could shape the future of Zimbabwean football.