ZIFA have wasted no time in launching the search for a new Warriors head coach following the dismissal of Michael Nees earlier this week. The association has moved swiftly, aiming to appoint a replacement within a week to take charge of the team’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco this December.
A late-night meeting between the ZIFA executive and its technical committee on Wednesday not only sealed Nees’s fate but also agreed on a transparent recruitment process, including advertising the position on the FIFA website.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates are expected to take place over the weekend, with the new coach likely to be unveiled by Wednesday next week. Among the names being linked to the post are former Warriors stars Bruce Grobbelaar, Kaitano Tembo, and George Mbwando, alongside experienced foreign tacticians such as Winfried Schäfer, Milutin “Micho” Sredojević, and Adel Amrouche.
Meanwhile, ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi confirmed that the Warriors will go into a 10-day training camp ahead of AFCON, which will also serve as the first real test for the incoming coach. The national team is set to play two international friendlies during the November FIFA window — against Algeria and Qatar — as part of final preparations.
“The camp will give the boys enough time to gel and the technical team a chance to assess both local and foreign-based players,” Magwizi said. “We want to ensure the Warriors are ready to compete and make the nation proud in Morocco.”
Zimbabwe are drawn in a tough AFCON Group B alongside Egypt, South Africa, and Angola, and ZIFA believes the Algeria friendly will provide a valuable rehearsal given the North African team’s similar playing style to Egypt.
With a new coach expected within days and structured preparation plans already in place, ZIFA’s swift action signals a renewed determination to rebuild the Warriors before the continental showpiece.