Zimbabwe Appoints Marian Marinica as Head Coach Ahead of AFCON 2025

Zimbabwe has named Marian Marinica as their new head coach just six weeks before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, signing him on a one-year contract. The appointment was confirmed in an official statement released by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).

"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," the ZIFA statement read.

Marian Marinica, a UEFA Pro Licence holder, takes over from Michael Nees, who left his role last month after Zimbabwe failed to record a win in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Marinica now faces the challenge of preparing the Warriors for a competitive AFCON campaign on short notice.

Zimbabwe is drawn in Group B at AFCON 2025 and will kick off their tournament against Egypt in Agadir on 22 December. The Warriors will also face Angola and regional rivals South Africa as they aim to make an impact in Morocco.