Story by ZBC Reporter

THE Zimbabwe National Senior Football Team, the Warriors, returned home Wednesday morning following their exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco, after failing to progress beyond the group stage.

The team arrived at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare after concluding their Group B campaign with a 3-2 defeat to neighbours South Africa in their final match played on Monday.

Zimbabwe finished the group with one point, having struggled to convert promising performances into positive results against strong opposition.

Despite the early elimination, Warriors head coach Mr Mario Marinica commended the players for their attitude and commitment throughout the tournament, saying the team showed resilience in the face of difficult circumstances.

“I am proud of the attitude of the players. They never stopped believing, they never hid, and they continued to fight until the end. That is the mentality we need going forward,” Marinica said.

He added that while the results were disappointing, the experience gained at the continental level would be important in shaping the team going forward.

The Warriors’ AFCON squad featured a number of young players, reflecting a rebuilding process aimed at strengthening the national team ahead of future international competitions.

Zimbabwe now turns its attention to the next AFCON cycle and upcoming World Cup qualifiers, with the technical team expected to assess lessons learnt from the Morocco campaign as preparations begin for future assignments.