Through it all, thank you Zimbabwe

Our Africa Cup of Nations journey concluded sooner than we had hoped.

The matches we played exposed us to demanding lessons — uncomfortable, unfiltered truths that we must confront with honesty and resolve if Zimbabwe is to progress as a footballing nation.

In previous editions of Inside ZIFA, we have analysed the performances, wrestled with the disappointment of elimination and identified the areas that require deliberate and sustained improvement.

Today, however, we pause with a different purpose.

This column is devoted to recognising and honouring the many individuals, institutions, partners and supporters who made this campaign possible and who stood unwaveringly with the Warriors throughout the journey.

At this level, football is never the work of players alone. It is shaped by leadership, preparation, partnership, and, above all, national belief.

It is to these contributors that we now rightly turn.

On behalf of the Zimbabwe Football Association, I extend my sincere and heartfelt appreciation to everyone who stood alongside the Warriors during our Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

While the tournament continues in our absence, the journey we shared has reaffirmed enduring lessons about unity, leadership and the collective responsibility we all carry in building a stronger future for Zimbabwean football.

We begin by expressing our profound appreciation to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa, for the invaluable financial and moral support extended to the national team. The timely disbursement of USD400 000 ahead of the tournament ensured that the Warriors travelled and competed without the payment uncertainties that have unfortunately affected some past campaigns. This decisive intervention allowed the players and technical team to focus fully on football — preparation, performance and representing the nation with pride.

We are equally grateful to the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, for its unwavering support throughout this campaign.

Special thanks go to the Honourable Minister, Lieutenant General (Rtd) Ambassador Anselem Sanyatwe, whose leadership was visible both at the team’s send off and on their return.

His words of encouragement, even in the difficult moment of elimination, reminded the team that national duty is honoured not only in victory, but also in adversity.

We also acknowledge the steadfast presence of the Deputy Minister, Honourable Emily Jesaya, who walked closely with the team in Morocco, offering reassurance, motivation and practical support at every stage of the journey.

We also thank the Permanent Secretary Mr Nicholas Moyo, whose close, hands-on collaboration with the Association ensured effective coordination and timely execution throughout the campaign.

His support underscored the value of a strong and professional partnership between government and football administration.

ZIFA further expresses its appreciation to the Parliament of Zimbabwe, particularly the Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Honourable Farai Jere, and his committee members. Their engagement and oversight reflect a shared national commitment to sport as a tool for development, unity and national pride.

Our sincere appreciation goes to the Sports and Recreation Commission, under the guidance of its Chairman, Dr Nathaniel Madzivanyika, for the timely clearances and efficient handling of all regulatory and administrative matters.

Of note was the facilitation of critical documentation for the technical team, which ensured operational stability and continuity throughout the campaign.

Such professionalism behind the scenes is essential to performance on the pitch.

Football does not move forward without partners, and we are deeply thankful to the brands and institutions that stood with the Warriors.

We thank Ecobank, our Name Partner, for ensuring that the national team was presented in a manner that reflected pride, professionalism, and national dignity.

We also acknowledge 4May, whose sartorial excellence through the Warriors’ Number One suits brought elegance and confidence to the team’s off field appearance, and Warrior Pride for kitting our national team in uniforms that earned widespread admiration across the continent.

We extend special appreciation to Betterbrands, who stood with the Warriors consistently throughout the qualifiers and tournament period. Their support exemplifies the value of long-term belief and partnership in national sport.

We also thank InnBucks for partnering with the team and demonstrating how innovative, home-grown brands can meaningfully contribute to football development.

Their involvement reflects growing private sector confidence in the direction Zimbabwean football is taking.

We are grateful to the Bridging Gaps Foundation for providing critical logistical support.

In modern football, success is built as much on organisation and preparation as it is on talent, and their contribution ensured that key operational needs were met with professionalism.

Within our football structures, we acknowledge the Members of the ZIFA Assembly for their leadership and guidance throughout this period.

Their role in providing oversight, stability and unity has been instrumental in ensuring that the Association continues to function with purpose and accountability.

We also wish to extend our appreciation to the fourth estate, the media. Your coverage of the Warriors’ campaign and your commitment to telling the Zimbabwean story to the nation and beyond, remains invaluable. Your perspectives, both positive and critical, keep us grounded, challenge us to improve and hold us accountable to the standards our game deserves.

A vibrant, engaged media is an essential partner in the growth of Zimbabwean football.

To our supporters at home and across the diaspora, your love, passion, and belief were unmistakable.

The outpouring of support over the past weeks reaffirmed that the Warriors remain a powerful national symbol.

A special word of thanks goes to the many fans who paid their own way to Morocco. The sight of Zimbabwean flags waving in the stands gave the team strength, courage and a deep sense of responsibility.

We acknowledge the clubs these players represent, and the work they invest in developing talent for the national team.

The messages of support shared across club social media platforms, both locally and internationally, provided meaningful motivation and reinforced the shared ownership of the national cause.

To the players, thank you for playing your hearts out. You believed in every match, put your bodies on the line and faced Africa’s best in demanding encounters with courage and commitment.

The hunger to contribute, the eagerness to step onto the pitch and the pride with which you wore the badge reflect true Warrior attributes.

As an Association, we remain committed to ensuring that our players receive the support they deserve as representatives of the nation.

To the technical team, we thank you for keeping the group united and focused, even amid passionate debate and, at times, challenging external pressure.

Your composure, professionalism and belief in the process ensured cohesion and discipline throughout the campaign.

We acknowledge the ZIFA Executive Committee for leading from the front and ensuring smooth travel and logistical arrangements, and the ZIFA Secretariat, under the leadership of our outgoing General Secretary, Mrs Yvonne Manwa, for meticulous planning and tireless work that kept the campaign on track.

While we did not achieve the results we desired, we are not the same team we were when this tournament began.

Every opponent we faced walked away with renewed respect for Zimbabwe.

The task before us now is clear: to build deliberately on the unity, support and commitment shown during this campaign.

If we remain honest about our shortcomings, disciplined in our planning, and united in purpose, Zimbabwean football can and will rise to greater heights.

The future demands collective effort, patience and belief — and together, as a nation, we must answer that call.

Thank you, Warriors

Thank you, Zimbabwe.

Go Warriors Go!

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