Zimbabwe Warriors get US$1 million for 2025 AFCON finals campaign

The Zimbabwe senior men's national football team, the Warriors, is set to receive a financial boost from the government ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Morocco. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced on Thursday that the government has allocated US$1 million to support the team's preparations and participation in the prestigious tournament.

The Warriors secured their spot in the 2025 AFCON finals earlier this month, marking their sixth appearance in the continental competition. The tournament, scheduled for December 2025 in Morocco, will see Zimbabwe join 23 other nations vying for the coveted African football title.

Despite facing challenges during their qualification campaign, including playing home matches at foreign venues due to Zimbabwe's lack of a CAF-approved stadium, the Warriors' qualification has sparked celebrations across the nation. In recognition of the team's achievement, Ncube confirmed the government's commitment to supporting their AFCON preparations with the allocation of US$1 million.

"Government has also made a provision of US$1 million for the preparations and participation of the Zimbabwe national football team (Warriors) for the 2025 African Cup of Nations set for December 2025 in Morocco," Ncube said during his presentation of the 2025 National Budget on Thursday.

This will be Zimbabwe's sixth appearance at the AFCON finals, with their debut in the competition dating back to the 2004 edition in Tunisia.

In addition to the Warriors' funding, Ncube also disclosed that the government has allocated ZiG189 million (approximately US$5.5 million) towards the renovation of the National Sports Stadium in Harare. The completion of the renovation project has been delayed, and the new target for finishing the upgrades is now set for 2025, missing the original year-end deadline.

"This allocation is meant to facilitate country-wide identification and development of talent in sport, arts, and culture among the youth, as well as the rehabilitation of national sports stadia, multi-purpose sports facilities, and other recreational facilities across all provinces," Ncube explained.

The renovations of the National Sports Stadium, which began in 2023, have faced significant delays due to a lack of funding. Minister of Sport, Kirsty Coventry, had earlier noted that financial constraints were affecting progress. The government has emphasized that the renovated facility will be ready by 2025 to accommodate major sporting events, including the AFCON qualifiers and international fixtures.

While the National Sports Stadium's renovation is a priority, other stadiums across Zimbabwe also require significant upgrades to meet international standards, but these projects have been hindered by a lack of financial resources.

In total, the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture has been allocated ZiG888.8 million (approximately US$24.7 million) in the 2025 budget, which is expected to support the development of sports infrastructure and youth talent across the country.

The allocation is expected to make a significant contribution toward Zimbabwe's sporting future, with hopes of improving facilities for both national and international events.