The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has appointed Marian Marinica as the new head coach of the national team, replacing Michael Nees.

Nees, a former SAFA instructor, was recently dismissed after Zimbabwe failed to win any of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, despite pulling off a surprise draw against Bafana Bafana in the penultimate round of qualifiers in Durban.

His dismissal came even though he had successfully guided the Warriors to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they have been drawn in a tough group alongside South Africa, Egypt, and Angola.

“We are delighted to welcome Coach Marinica to Zimbabwe,” ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi said: 

“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. His appointment reflects ZIFA’s commitment to building a competitive and sustainable football structure that delivers results both on and off the pitch.” 

Marinica previously guided Malawi to the Round of 16 at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they were eventually eliminated by Morocco.

The new Zimbabwe coach will assume his duties with immediate effect and is expected to oversee preparations for the upcoming friendly matches against Algeria and Qatar, as well as lead the Warriors’ AFCON 2025 campaign.