5 foreigners for the job at Zimbabwe Warriors

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has postponed the appointment of the new Warriors coach, initially expected this weekend, with interviews for five shortlisted foreign candidates now scheduled for tomorrow. The shortlist includes Spaniard Gerard Nus, Germans Winfried Schäfer, Michael Nees and Antoine Hey, and Brazilian Marcio Maximo Barcellos.

These interviews will be conducted by a panel of ZIFA, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). FIFA will conduct integrity checks on the candidates, all of whom hold the UEFA Pro Licence coaching badge. Despite speculation, ZIFA clarified that no candidate has been selected yet and that Schäfer, while likely, has not yet been confirmed.

The selected coach will oversee Zimbabwe’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, starting with an away match against Kenya in Nairobi in September. FIFA, which plays an active role in the process, is expected to pay the coach’s annual salary of US$150,000. The appointment is crucial to the Warriors’ success in upcoming tournaments.