Zimbabwes Warriors are headed back to Africas biggest football stage for their sixth Africa Cup of Nations appearance and this time, belief is growing that the long-awaited breakthrough might finally be within reach.
Across five previous campaigns, Zimbabwe have been unable to advance beyond the group stage, often falling just short despite moments of promise. The 2025 edition presents another chance to shift the narrative. Qualification came through a resilient run in Group J, where they finished behind Cameroon but showed enough attacking quality to suggest that progress is possible.
However, their uneven form in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers where they finished bottom of a demanding group featuring South Africa, Nigeria, Benin, Lesotho, and Rwanda prompted the departure of coach Michael Nees and raised questions about the teams trajectory. Under new leadership, the Warriors arrive at AFCON 2025 looking to restore confidence and rekindle national pride.