Official: Mario Marinica appointed new Zimbabwe head coach! | OneFootball

Romanian Mario Marinica takes charge of the Warriors

Zimbabwe /@x.com/sportswireza/

The Zimbabwe Football Association has officially announced the appointment of Romanian coach Mario Marinica as head of the national team, replacing German Michael Nees, who was dismissed from his position last month.

According to the statement released by ZIFA, this decision comes after a string of disappointing results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, during which Zimbabwe failed to secure a spot in the final tournament.

The Zimbabwean federation declared in a statement published on its official Facebook page:

“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Marian (Mario) Marinica as the new Head Coach of the Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National Football Team, the Warriors, on a one-year contract.”

Zimbabwe gears up for AFCON with a new coach

The Warriors will head into the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations under the leadership of their new manager. The draw has placed them in Group B alongside Egypt, South Africa, and Angola.

Their tournament opener is set for December 22 against the Pharaohs of Egypt—a high-stakes clash that promises plenty of intensity and suspense.