HARARE – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) will bid to host the Men’s Under 17 AFCON Qualifier Tournament in September 2025 and participate in the FIFA Series 2026, the association announced following an executive committee meeting on Sunday.
ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi chaired the meeting.
The association said hosting the Under 17 AFCON qualifiers from September 4 to 17 would showcase Zimbabwe’s organisational capacity and football potential, but questions remain over venues to be used after FIFA banned the country from hosting international matches due to substandard stadiums.
ZIFA plans to consult the government and relevant ministries to support the bid, which could involve renovating match venues to FIFA standards.
The committee also confirmed Zimbabwe’s participation in the FIFA Series 2026, an initiative aimed at increasing international exposure for national teams.
An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the ZIFA Assembly has been scheduled for March 28, with further details to be announced.
To strengthen ties with the football community, ZIFA will conduct a nationwide stakeholder engagement programme from March 3 to 7, gathering input to shape the future of Zimbabwean football, the association said.
Additionally, ZIFA announced the formation of various committees to improve governance and operational efficiency, with their terms of reference to be communicated later.
FIFA will conduct an induction programme for the ZIFA Executive Committee from March 25 to 28, led by FIFA official David Fani and consultant Stewart Regan, to align the association with international best practices.
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